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Le Damnation de Faust
Dramatic legend in 4 parts
Music by Hector Berlioz
Libretto by Hector Berlioz
First Performance: Opéra-Comique, Paris, December 6, 1846
Cast:
Marguerite Mezzo soprano
Faust Tenor
Mephistophèles Baritone or bass
Brander Bass
Chorus: SS(orA)TTBB
Ballet: Sylphs; Will-o'-the-wisps
Background
Synopsis
Part
I. Faust, a learned philosopher, wanders in the fields at sunrise
meditating upon Nature. He observes a crowd of peasants who dance and
sing, jesting rudely. The Hungarian troops approach to martial music.
Great excitement prevails among the peasants. Faust alone remains cold
and unmoved.
Part II. Faust in his study deplores his unhappy lot. Neither in
nature, nor in books, nor in old memories has he found solace. He
decides to take poison, but as he raises the cup to drink the strains of
an Easter hymn turn his thoughts toward good. Even then the fiend
Mephistophèles is at his elbow, tempting him with promises of earthly
joys. He succombs and goes forth with the fiend in search of pleasure.
They enter a wine cellar in which a number of boon companions are
carousing. Mephistophèles joins them, but Faust is disgusted by their
uproarious ribaldry. Led by Mephistophèles to a garden on the banks of
the Elba, he falls asleep amid the music of a chorus of sylphs, and
dreams of Margaret, a fair unknown peasant girl. As the sylphs dance
about him he awakens, still thinking of Margaret and desiring to find
her. A troop of soldiers march by, returning from war and eager for
pleasure. They are joined by a band of students, who proclaim in song
the joys of wine and love.
Part III. Distant drums and trumpets sound the retreat. Faust
impatiently awaits Margaret in her dwelling. Mephistophèles warns him of
her coming, and he conceals himself in her room. Margaret enters musing
upon a strange dream of an unknown lover. She braids her hair, singing
dreamily of the faithful King of Thule. Mephistophèles invokes the power
of evil and begins a mocking serenade, while in the garden without the
will-o'-the-wisps dance. Faust appears before Margaret, who is startled,
but in an ardent love scene they declare their mutual passion, and
Margaret at last is persuaded to give herself to her lover. The entrance
of Mephistophèles, to tell them that the villagers are coming to warn
Margaret's mother of her danger, terrifies the bewildered girl. She and
Faust part reluctantly, while Mephistophèles exaults over the
enslavement of his victim. The villagers approach muttering threats, as
Mephistophèles forces Faust to depart.
Part IV. Margaret, heavy-hearted, sits alone, thinking of her lover
who comes not. Soldiers march by singing of the glories of war.
Marche hongroise:
Faust alone in his study has found solace in Nature, but Mephistophèles
disturbs him with the news that Margaret is in prison, condemned to
death for the murder of her mother, Martha, to whom the fiend had given
too powerful a sleeping potion. Faust sings a paper which he believes
will free Margaret, but which really gives over his soul to perdition.
Faust and the fiend then set forth on a wild ride through the darkness.
As they gallop along they hear women and children praying. Strange
shapes close around them presaging death. The horses tremble and snort
with fear. Faust imagines that it rains blood. Everywhere he sees
horrible visions, and at last he is hurled into the abyss to which the
fiend has craftily led him and is forever lost. The Prince of Darkness
appears attended by infernal spirits, who exalt over his downfall.
With a change of scene a celestial chorus is heard and the spirit
of Margaret saved by saith and repentance is received into heaven. With
her apotheosis the drama ends.
Libretto
Links
Last updated: January 22, 2008