Faust – the Cabaret d’Enfer scene, Act II (The Royal Opera)

The colourful Cabaret d Enfer scene in Act II of David McVicar s spectacular production of Faust. Subscribe to our channel and find out more at http://www.roh.org.uk Disillusioned with life, the aged philosopher Faust calls upon Satan to help him. The devil Méphistophélès appears and strikes a bargain with the philosopher: he will give him youth and the love of the beautiful Marguerite, if Faust will hand over his soul. Gounod s Faust (1859) was one of the world s most popular operas from the 1860s to World War II, and remains a core repertory work. The story, adapted by Gounod s librettists Jules Barbier and Michel Carré from Carré s play Faust et Marguerite, is based on Part I of Goethe s epic poem Faust, which was a major inspiration for many composers during the 19th century and beyond. Gounod added a ballet to Act V when Faust received its first Paris Opéra staging in 1869. David McVicar s wonderfully theatrical production draws insightful parallels between Faust and Gounod, a composer torn between piety and worldly and romantic success. Sets and costumes by Charles Edwards and Brigitte Reiffenstuel pay tribute to the art and architecture of 1870s Paris, and include a vivid Cabaret d Enfer, a run-down tenement block and re-creations of a box from the Paris Opéra and the organ loft of Notre-Dame. The variety of settings mirrors the variety in Gounod s score, highlights of which include Méphistophélès s demonic aria Le veau d or , Marguerite s dazzling coloratura Jewel Song, the Act IV Soldiers Chorus and Act V s impassioned trio as Marguerite struggles to achieve salvation.