Opera "Faust": content, video, interesting facts, history

S. Gounod opera "Faust"

The history of Doctor Faust was one of the favorite themes in the work of romantic composers. The magic of Goethe's tragedy literally enveloped the minds of the creators of that time - Schubert, Berlioz, Sheet and many others, inspired by the immortal tragedy, created their musical version of "Faust." Offered a variant and Charles Gounod, and he managed to write a truly romantic work - a real mystical drama, which for more than fifty years has not left the world operatic scenes.

Summary of the opera Gounod "Faust"and many interesting facts about this work read on our page.

Summary of "Faust"

Germany, XVI century. In the medieval Wittenberg resides scientist. Faust is tormented by agonizing feelings about the senselessly wasted time on science. He wants to return his youth and sells his soul to the devil, who appears in the form of Mephistopheles. Being in doubt before the choice, Faust gives in to Mephistopheles' persuasion, seeing the image of the beautiful Margarita. Triumphing over human weakness, Satan sets off for the spring festivities.

During the Easter holiday townspeople Mephistopheles leads to confusion by their predictions. At the end of the holiday, Faust meets with Margarita. The scientist, fascinated by the girl, invites her for a date, but Margarita refuses him. After some time, there is a welcome meeting between Faust and Margarita, during which they confess to a sudden outbreak of love for each other, but this passion scares them and they lack the courage to be alone. Mephistopheles helps them in this by pursuing their selfish diabolical goals. Satan pushes Faust into the arms of Margarita. Under the influence of irrepressible passion, the young surrender to the senses. Mephistopheles triumphs.

After a night spent Faust leaves the girl and no longer appears. Margarita is tormented by a sense of shame. In order to somehow atone for her sin, she goes to church. At the entrance, Mephistopheles meets her and reminds her of her lost innocence. The girl does not stand the bullying of the devil and faints. Soon Margarita's brother returns from the war. Valentine learns about what happened. Defending her honor, he summons Faust to a duel in which he dies, as Mephistopheles predicted. Valentin, before the last breath, curses her sister and wishes her death.

Mephistopheles, in order to somehow distract Faust from the heartfelt feelings of Margarita, goes with the exhausted scientist to the celebration of the devilish forces, which took place on Walpurgis Night. Mephistopheles wants to amuse Faust, but the young man thinks of Margarita and wants to see her. Meanwhile, she, having lost her sanity, is languishing in prison because of the murder of her child and is awaiting execution. Mephistopheles helps Faust see his beloved. Lovers talk about their feelings, remember their rare dates. Faust offers Margarita escape with him. But they are unable to do this, because the girl is being led to death.

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Interesting Facts

• The whole plot of the opera is built on the first part of Goethe's tragedy. But the philosophical plot of the German author Gounod interprets in a lyrical vein - most in this story the composer was inspired by the fate and love experiences of Margarita. The composer completely changes the main character of Faust, who is reincarnated as a lyrical character. The changes also comprehended the reveler of Zibel, who became the meek and faithful boyfriend of Margaret, and Wagner's assistant, who embodied himself in Faust’s friend.
• Goethe's drama attracted many romantics, and they turned to her in their work. It is noteworthy that at first all these composers, and there were a lot of them - G. Verdi, J. Rossini, R. Schumann, F. Liszt, and even the operatic reformer R. Wagner, wanted to create an opera work on this topic. However, only Gounod was able to do this, while others had to abandon this idea, since they did not dare to reproduce human philosophy on the opera stage.
• Opera was very popular in the United States, as the American writer Edith Wharton tells about in her novel The Epoch of Innocence. Actually, the action of the novel begins with the music of Gounod - in the New York Academy of Music, where Christina Nilson performs one of the arias of Margarita.
• The Argentine poet Estanislao del Campo in 1866 wrote a satirical poem called "Faust", in which the local cowboy, or gaucho, shared his impressions of staging the opera Gounod at the Metropolitan Theater.
• The popularity of the performances of "Faust" has noticeably decreased since 1950. Many theaters rejected the production because it was considered very costly - the leadership could not afford to pay for a large choir, as well as scenery and costumes.

• Gounod’s Faust is mentioned in Gaston LeRoux’s gothic novel The Phantom of the Opera, as well as in his film versions of 1924, 1934 and 1936.
• In one of the most famous European comics of the 20th century, The Adventures of Tintin, there are small excerpts from Margarita's aria (with pearls). In the story, Tintin and his partner often encounter the pompous opera singer Bianca Castafiore, who looks a lot like the French opera diva Emma Calvet, who became famous for her performance of the role of Margherita. Her business card is precisely the passage of the "pearl aria", which she always sings so loudly that everyone around has to almost stop up her ears.
• Ballet music from the Walpurgian night scene is often omitted in the staging of opera performances, but sometimes it appears on stage as an independent ballet program. It was to the music of Gounod that the famous choreographer George Balanchin put on his ballet "Walpurgis Night".
• Ziebel's aria from Act III is cited twice by Dorn in the second act of the play by A.P. Chekhov's "The Seagull". It is also used as the basis for a piano piece. M. Ravel "In the manner of Chabrier".
• In Thomas Mann's novel The Magic Mountain, Hans Castorp plays Cavatina Valentine in the chapter "Very Doubtful."
• In the 1923 film Germaine Dulac’s "Smiling Madame Böde", the husband of the main character often visits the local production of Faust with friends.

Popular numbers from the opera "Faust"

Mephistopheles couplets "Le veau d'or est toujours debout" (listen)

Cavatina Faust "Salute! Demeure chaste et pure" (listen)

Margarita's aria (with pearls) "Les Grands Seigneurs" (listen)

The history of the creation and productions of "Faust"

The premiere of "Faust" Gounod took place in mid-March 1859 on the stage of the Paris Lyric Theater. But now, seventeen years have passed from the thought of creating an opera to its first show.

The idea of ​​creating an opera for a young composer originated in Italy. Having the talent of the artist, which he inherited from his father, Charles, fascinated by Italian landscapes, painted small paintings. These creations were dedicated to Walpurgis Night. Gounod was already convinced that the sketches would be useful to him in writing the opera Faust.

In 1856, a fateful meeting took place. Charles Gounod with the famous librettists J. Barbier and M. Carré, in which the French composer shared his plan for the creation of Faust. Barbier and Carré supported Gounod’s initiative and set to work with enthusiasm. At the same time, Charles offered his opera to the administration of the Lyric Theater, which gave a positive response to the creation of a work on Goethe's creation. It began laborious and laborious work. But while writing the opera, an incredible event happened that undermined the authors' enthusiasm. One of their dramatic theaters in Paris was the first to introduce the premiere of a melodrama, written on the plot of Faust. The director of the Lyric Theater refused Gounod to continue working on the opera, realizing that in this situation the prime minister would not bring any profit. But in order to somehow make up for his guilt, the head of the theater suggested Charlie to start writing another opera performance based on the comedy work of Moliere, The Doctor inevitably. But disappointment was short-lived, and good luck returned to the composer again - the set melodrama had no success. The director of the Lyric Theater again returned Gounod to work, and soon the composer presented the first results. The performance was staged, however, it did not produce any furore. Interest in staging began to grow with time.

In 1862, the premiere took place on the stage of the Bolshoi Opera Theater in Paris. But in order for this to happen, Charl Gounod had to remake the original version of the work, which was built on dialogue. The composer finished the ballet part of "Walpurgis Night" and replaced the whole speech with vocal numbers. It was in this interpretation of the plot of the famous tragedy that the opera became the most famous among the existing ones. In 1883, Faust was staged in the Metropolitan Opera in New York with great success. It is this version that has become frequently performed not only in the USA, but throughout the world.

The mysterious image of Dr. Faust, the hero of a medieval legend, has become a landmark for the era of romanticism. The famous warlock, balancing on the verge of the devil and the Divine, has become a kind of symbol of the romantic soul, torn apart by internal contradictions. It was this contradictory nature that considered itself and Charles Gounod - the composer could not decide what was more important for him - worldly life or an abbey. On the one hand, he was a bright personality, an outstanding operatic conductor, and on the other hand, he was a modest artist in a long robe creating religious music for the church ... He, like Faust, darted between what he was madly attracted to and of life. Perhaps that is why he managed to create the greatest masterpiece - a fascinating beauty and chilling musical drama "Faust", which has no equal in the whole story.