Faust, Charles Gounod's operatic retelling of the Faust legend, debuted at the Théatre-Lyrique on 19 March 1859.
It was adapted by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré from Carré'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 Théatre-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, née 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.
Synopsis
Roles: Faust, Méphistophélès, Valentin, Wagner, Cibot, Marguerite, Siébel, Marthe. Siébel is a pants role.
The opera is set in 16th century Germany, and is in five acts.
Act I 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. Méphistophélès appears (duet: Me voici) and, with a tempting image of Marguerite at her spinning wheel, persuades Faust to buy Mephistophélès 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 Bière. Valentin, leaving for war, entrusts the care of his sister Marguerite to his friends Wagner and Siébel. Méphistophélès appears and sings about the Golden Calf (Le veau d'or). Méphistophélès 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). Méphistophélès is joined by Faust and the villagers in a waltz Ainsi que la brise légère. Marguerite refuses Faust's arm out of modesty.
Act III takes place in Marguerite's garden. Siébel leaves a bouquet for Marguerite (Faites-lui mes aveux). Faust sends Méphistophélès in search of a gift for Marguerite and sings a cavatina Salut, demeure chaste et pure about nature. Mephistophélès brings a trunk of jewels. Marguerite enters, pondering her encounter with Faust at the city gates, and sings a ballad about the King of Thulé, Il était un roi de Thulé, 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). Méphistophélès 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). Siébel stands by her. Méphistophélès sings a lover's serenade under Marguerite's window (Vous qui êtes 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 Méphistophélès and then by a choir of devils. She finished her prayer, but faints when she is cursed again by Méphistophéles.
Act V is set in the Harz mountains on Walpurgisnacht. Méphistophélès 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. Méphistophélés helps Faust enter the prison where Marguerite is being held for killing her child. They sing a love duet Oui, c'est toi que j'aime. Marguerite calls for divine protection. Faust prays, while Marguerite's soul rises to heaven (Christ est ressuscité).
Popular impact
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.
