Intro

The Damnation of Faust

Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1869)

From 16/09/2012 in Ghent - from 03/10/2012 in Antwerp

Musical direction: Dmitri Jurowski
Director: Terry Gilliam
Co-director: Leah Hausman
Marguerite: Maria Riccarda Wesseling / Claudia Mahnke
Faust: Michael Spyres
Méphistophélès: Michele Pertusi / Simon Bailey

Rollercoaster ride to hell

The scientist Faust has lost his faith in God and man. Just when he is about to end his life, the devil appears on the scene disguised as Mephistopheles. He promises Faust a life full of excitement, success and happiness. He also brings together the scientist and the beautiful, innocent Marguerite, but their relationship soon ends in a nightmare. In order to save his beloved, Faust makes a fatal pact with the devil.

The French composer Hector Berlioz drew on Goethe's literary classic and produced a great score with French flair. For many years the work was considered difficult to stage: a challenge for Terry Gilliam, a member of the former Monty Python team. This will be his ground-breaking opera debut. The British press has already praised it as: ‘an unqualified triumph’ (The Opera Critic). So buckle down for a descent into hell that is guaranteed to blow your socks off!

_{Coproduction English National Opera, London & Teatro Massimo, Palermo.}

Read the full synopsis as pdf

Practical

Length: about 2h and 40 min (incl. break).

Language: French. Surtitles: Dutch.

Tickets from € 11.00 to € 100.00

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Team

Following Hérodiade (2011) this season our chief conductor Dmitri Jurowski will once again take on the challenge of French romanticism. American tenor Michael Spyres is making his debut as Faust and will return at the end of the season for a lively Candide. His female counterpart is the Swiss Maria Riccarda Wesseling, who feels very much at home in the French repertoire. The devil is alternately played by the British Simon Bailey and the Italian Michele Pertusi, who is a popular guest at the Metropolitan Opera.

Cast distribution
Méphistophélès: Michele Pertusi / Brander: Simon Bailey from 16/9 until 9/10.
Méphistophélès: Simon Bailey / Brander: Gevorg Grigoryan on 12 & 14/10.
Marguérite: Maria Riccarda Wesseling: 16/9 until 21/9 / Claudia Mahnke: 3 until 14/10.

_{Gimv supoorts chief conductor Dmitri Jurowski.}