Faust (opera)
Faust, Charles Gounod's operatic retelling of the Faust legend, debuted at the ThÃÂéatre-Lyrique on 19 March 1859.It was adapted by Jules Barbier and Michel CarrÃÂé from CarrÃÂé's play Faust et Marguerite, in its turn loosely based on Goethe's Faust, Part I. Faust was declined at the National Opera House, on the grounds that it was not sufficiently "showy", and its appearance at the ThÃÂéatre-Lyrique had been delayed for a year because Dennery's drama Faust was currently playing at the Porte St. Martin. The manager Leon Carvalho (who cast his wife Marie Caroline, nÃÂée Felix-Miolan, as Marguerite) insisted on various changes during production, including cutting several numbers. Faust was not initially well-received. The publisher, Antoine Choudens, who purchased the copyright for 10,000 francs, took the work (with added recitatives replacing the original spoken dialogue) on tour through Germany, Belgium, Italy, and England, with Marie Caroline Carvalho repeating her role. It was revived in Paris in 1862, now a hit. A Ballet Act had to be inserted before the work would be played at the Grand Opera in 1869: it became the most frequently performed opera at that house and a staple of the international reperatory. Its popularity has declined in the ensuing years.
Roles: Faust, MÃÂéphistophÃÂélÃÂès, Valentin, Wagner, Cibot, Marguerite, SiÃÂébel, Marthe. SiÃÂébel is a pants role.
The opera is set in 16th century Germany, and is in five acts.
Act 1 takes place in Faust's cabinet. Faust attempts to kill himself (twice) with poison but stops each time when he hears a choir. He curses science and faith and asks for infernal guidance. MÃÂéphistophÃÂélÃÂès appears (duet: Me voici) and, with a tempting image of Marguerite at her spinning wheel, persuades Faust to buy MephistophÃÂélÃÂès services on earth in exchange for Faust's in Hell.
Act II occurs at the city gates. A chorus of students and soldiers and villagers sing a drinking song, Vin ou BiÃÂère. Valentin, leaving for war, entrusts the care of his sister Marguerite to his friends Wagner and SiÃÂébel. MÃÂéphistophÃÂélÃÂès appears and sings about the Golden Calf (Le veau d'or). MÃÂéphistophÃÂélÃÂès maligns Marguerite, and Valentin tries to strike him with his sword, which shatters. Valentin and friends use the cross-shaped hilts of their swords to fend off what they now know is an infernal power (chorus: De l'enfer). MÃÂéphistophÃÂélÃÂès is joined by Faust and the villagers in a waltz Ainsi que la brise lÃÂégÃÂère. Marguerite refuses Faust's arm out of modesty.
Act III takes place in Marguerite's garden. SiÃÂébel leaves a bouquet for Marguerite (Faites-lui mes aveux). Faust sends MÃÂéphistophÃÂélÃÂès in search of a gift for Marguerite and sings a cavatina Salut, demeure chaste et pure about nature. MephistophÃÂélÃÂès brings a trunk of jewels. Marguerite enters, pondering her encounter with Faust at the city gates, and sings a ballad about the King of ThulÃÂé, Il ÃÂétait un roi de ThulÃÂé,
Marthe, Marguerite's governess, says the jewels must be from an admirer. Marguerite tries on the jewelry and sings her famous aria, the Jewel Song (Ah! je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroir). MÃÂéphistophÃÂélÃÂès and Faust join the women in the garden and romance them. Marguerite allows Faust to kiss her Laisse-moi, laisse-moi, contempler ton visage), but then asks him to go away. She sings at her window for his quick return, and Faust, listening, returns to her.
In Act IV, in Marguerite's room, impregnated and abandoned by Faust, Marguerite has given birth and is a social outcast. She sings an air at her spinning wheel (Il ne revient pas). SiÃÂébel stands by her. MÃÂéphistophÃÂélÃÂès sings a lover's serenade under Marguerite's window (Vous qui ÃÂêtes l'endormie). Valentin returns and asks who debauched his sister. Faust and Valentin duel and Valentin is killed. With his dying breath he condemns Marguerite to Hell. Marguerite tries to pray but is stopped , first by MÃÂéphistophÃÂélÃÂès and then by a choir of devils. She finished her prayer, but faints when she is cursed again by MÃÂéphistophÃÂéles.
Act V is set in the Harz mountains on Walpurgisnacht. MÃÂéphistophÃÂélÃÂès and Faust are surrounded by witches (Un, deux et trois). Faust is transported to a cave of queens and courtesans, and a feast is held. Faust sees a vision of Marguerite and asks for her. MÃÂéphistophÃÂélÃÂés helps Faust enter the prison where Marguerite is being held for killing her child. They sing a love duel Oui, c'est toi que j'aime. Marguerite calls for divine protection. Faust prays, while Marguerite's soul rises to heaven (Christ est ressuscitÃÂé).
Parts of the opera have seeped in popular culture in Europe over more than a century. The most global impression has perhaps been left by the famous aria sung by Marguerite, the jewel song, since children all over the world have been reading its first words in several albums of the adventures of Tintin. In this series of graphic novels or comic strips our hero and his sidekick, Captain Haddock often encounter a bombastic opera singer called Bianca Castafiore. Her trademark is the jewel song, which she always belts out at high volume, never saying a word more or a word less than Ah! je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroir within the confines of the strip. We usually assume that she is quite capable of singing the rest of the aria and the entire opera.Synopsis
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