Faust is a five-act opera by Charles Gounod. Set to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michael Carré, it is a loose adaptation of Faust: First Part of the Tragedy by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Faust, an aging scholar, is lamenting on how his studies have come to nothing and have left him all alone. He attempts to commit suicide, only to receive a visit from Méphistophélès himself. Méphistophélès shows him an image of Marguerite, a village maiden, and makes a deal with him: he will serve Faust on Earth, but Faust shall serve him in Hell. Faust agrees, and his youth is restored, transforming him into a handsome young man. But as he pursues Marguerite, Méphistophélès does whatever he can to ensure that the seduction is successful, so that he can lay claim to Faust's soul for good.
The original production of the opera had spoken dialogue, which was what premiered at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris in 1859. Then, in 1869, a ballet was inserted into the first scene of the final act, and the spoken dialogue was changed to sung recitatives prior to its premiere at the Paris Opéra, thus turning it into a grand opera. Since then, Faust has become one of the most popular French grand operas, and has seen frequent performances around the world.
This work provides examples of:
- Adaptation Name Change: Faust's love interest was named Gretchen in Goethe's play. In the opera, her name is changed to 'Marguerite'.
- All of the Other Reindeer: Marguerite becomes an outcast in the village after becoming pregnant out of wedlock.
- Ascended Extra: Siébel has a minor role in Goethe's play, but he's a more prominent character in the opera.
- Big Brother Instinct: Valentin is very protective of his younger sister Marguerite, and he even tries to fight Méphistophélès when he mocks her in Act II. Needless to say, Valentin does not take it well when he learns that Faust had knocked her up.
- Bittersweet Ending: Marguerite dies, but she is declared to have been saved by Heaven, and Faust himself is redeemed at the end.
- Break the Cutie: Poor Marguerite is seduced and abandoned by Faust, then ends up a social outcast after giving birth to his child by Act IV. Her brother’s attempts to defend her honour end up getting him killed in a duel thanks to intervention by Méphistophélès, and he curses out Marguerite with his dying breath. Then to top it all off, Marguerite is condemned to Hell, and then sentenced to execution after killing her own child.
- Cross-Cast Role: Siébel is a breeches role that’s typically sung by a mezzo-soprano.
- Dad's Off Fighting in the War: More like older brother, as Valentin is preparing to go to war in Act II.
- Deal with the Devil: Faust makes a deal with Méphistophélès to restore his youth so he can find love, on the condition that he gives himself up to the latter at the end of his life.
- Defiled Forever: Marguerite is treated like this after having Faust’s child out of wedlock.
- Distracted by the Luxury: Marguerite receives a box of jewelry from Méphistophélès, which makes her so excited, she doesn't even notice Siébel’s flowers.
- Driven to Madness: Marguerite goes mad by Act V, and considering everything she’s gone through, it’s hard to blame her.
- Driven to Suicide: Act I opens up with Faust trying to drink poison before he receives a visit from Méphistophélès.
- Duel to the Death: Valentin challenges Faust to a duel to avenge his sister’s honour, but he ends up killed when Méphistophélès intervenes.
- Dying Curse: Valentin curses out Marguerite with his final breath.
- Ethereal Choir: Act V has a choir of angels sing as Marguerite goes to heaven.
- Evil Sounds Deep: Méphistophélès, the actual Devil himself, is sung by a bass-baritone. Averted mostly with Valentin, who is also a baritone.
- Faustian Rebellion: Played with, in that Faust goes through one after realizing what has happened to Marguerite, but he still accepts the Devil’s help until the end of Act V.
- Faux Affably Evil: Méphistophélès is a charming villain for most of the opera, up until Act IV and V, which show off his more cruel and sadistic side.
- Fountain of Youth: Faust’s youth is restored by an elixir given to him by the Devil.
- Incorruptible Pure Pureness: There’s a huge emphasis on Marguerite’s purity that even Méphistophélès takes note of.
- The Ingenue: Marguerite.
- Innocent Soprano: arguerite is a lyric coloratura soprano role, and she’s the sweet, innocent village girl that Faust falls in love with.
- Kick the Dog: Méphistophélès mocks Marguerite after she’s been made a social outcast in Act IV.
- Let's Duet: “Laisse-moi”, sung by Faust and Marguerite in Act III.
- Love Triangle: A minor one between Faust and Siébel for Marguerite; not that it lasts very long.
- Mephistopheles: He's a major character in the opera.
- Ode to Intoxication: Méphistophélès’s “Le veau d’or”, which he sings to the crowd in Act II.
- Offing the Offspring: When Act V opens up, it’s revealed that Marguerite has murdered her own child, and is about to be executed for it.
- Prayer Pose: Marguerite typically does one in Act IV, when she prays for forgiveness at the church.
- Redemption Equals Death: Marguerite dies in Act V, and she is then declared to have been saved by Heaven.
- Tenor Boy: Faust becomes one after his youth is restored.
- Walpurgisnacht: Act V takes place during the festival within the Harz Mountains.
- Wicked Witch: Act V is filled with witches during the Walpurgis Night scenes.
