BERLIOZ: La damnation de Faust

First performance: 6 December 1846 at OpÈra-Comique, Paris
Principal characters

Synopsis
Part One
Faust, alone on a plain at sunrise, praises the awakening spring day, nature’s renewal and his own life in solitude, far from the madding crowd. In a nearby village, merry country people celebrate spring with singing and dancing while an army equipped for battle marches by. Faust withdraws untouched by all.
Part Two
Having returned to his study pensive and unhappy, Faust sinks into profound melancholy and pessimism. Intent on suicide, he is about to drink a cup of poison when from outside he hears the Easter hymn. Faust remembers the purity and piety of his childhood. His faith is reawakened and he reaffirms his commitment to life.
Suddenly MÈphistophÈlËs appears and, scorning Faust’s sentimentality, suggests that he go out into the world rather than dwell in philosophical speculation. He promises Faust, who is mistrustful at first, to fulfill his most extravagant desires. Faust follows this diabolical companion.
The first stop is Auerbach’s Cellar in Leipzig. Faust dislikes the drinkers’ raucous singing, Brander’s coarse song about the “Rat in the Cellar,” and MÈphistophÈlËs’ cynical reply with his “Song of the Flea.” He insists they leave without delay.
MÈphistophÈlËs next leads him to the banks of the Elbe and sends him to sleep on a bed of roses. MÈphistophÈlËs concocts seductive dreams that beguile Faust, showing him a picture of his mistress-to-be, Marguerite. On awakening, Faust demands to be taken to the girl. MÈphistophÈlËs promises to arrange it. He advises Faust to join the soldiers and students going into town and to follow them to Marguerite’s house.
Part Three
In Marguerites’ room, Faust is filled with a sweet premonition of his romantic adventure. When Marguerite appears, he conceals himself. Marguerite has already seen her lover-to-be in a dream. She sings the ballad of “The King of Thule,” in which she gives expression to her longing. As soon as Marguerite has fallen asleep, MÈphistophÈlËs appears. His band of beguiling spirits seduce and lead Marguerite to her destruction. With a sarcastic song, MÈphistophÈlËs delights in his certain victory.
Faust and Marguerite meet and declare their love for one another. They are interrupted by MÈphistophÈlËs who urges Faust to flee as the neighbors have become suspicious and want to warn Marguerite’s mother. MÈphistophÈlËs assures them that they can meet again the following evening.
Part Four
Marguerite has been jilted by Faust. She longs for his return but senses that he will not come back. The singing of the students and soldiers can be heard from the street below. This makes Marguerite even more conscious of her loneliness.
Meanwhile, Faust finds renewed strength in the midst of nature.
He learns from MÈphistophÈlËs that Marguerite is in prison awaiting execution for killing her mother — a crime for which Faust is responsible. Faust implores MÈphistophÈlËs to rescue Marguerite. He is prepared to do this on condition that Faust seals their pact with his signature. Faust walks into the trap. They charge off on MÈphistophÈlËs’ magic horses, but not to Marguerite’s dungeon. Instead they descend into the depths of hell amidst earthquakes, thunder, and bloody rain, where diabolical spirits are awaiting their arrival. Faust, dammed until eternity, is thrown into the flames; MÈphistophÈlËs is triumphant.
In heaven the angels welcome Marguerite who has been absolved of her sins.
Synopsis courtesy of Los Angeles Opera.
Click here for the complete libretto.

image=http://www.operatoday.com/content/mephistopheles_delacroix.jpg
image_description=MÈphistophÈlËs dans les airs by EugËne Delacroix, 1828
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first_audio_name=Hector Berlioz: La damnation de Faust
first_audio_link=http://www.operatoday.com/Damnation_Faust.m3u
product=yes
product_title=Hector Berlioz: La damnation de Faust
product_by=Nicolai Gedda, Marilyn Horne, Roger Soyer, Dimiter Petkov, Orchestra and Chorus of Rome Opera, Georges PrÍtre (cond.).
Live performance, Rome, 11 January 1969.