Archive photos of Faust March 2003 courtesy of Eleakis Photography

Mephistopheles (Dean Elzinga) at the Fair

Marguerite (Amy Hansen)

Mephistopheles reveals his true nature

The death of Valentin (Grant Youngblood)

Faust (Eric van Hoven) is tormented by the devil's minions while Marguerite (Amy Hanson)sends a prayer to heaven

Faust – music by Charles Gounod, libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré after Faust by Goethe

Photo courtesy of the Sacramento Bee

What would you trade to make your wildest dreams come true? Goethe’s story of Faust and his deal with the devil has been the basis for many dramatic and musical interpretations, none more popular than Gounod’s setting.

Our cast includes Eric van Hoven in the title role and Amy Hansen – Micaëla in our 2000 Carmen – as Marguerite. Gary Briggle (Falstaff, Carmen) returns to direct.

(For a complete synopsis, see below)

All performances are given at the
Sacramento Community Center Theatre
1301 L Street, Sacramento
Friday February 28, 2003 -- 8:00 PM
Sunday March 2, 2003 -- 2:00 PM
Tuesday March 4, 2003 -- 7:30 PM

Cast:

Faust - Eric van Hoven *
Méphistophélès - Dean Elzinga *
Marguerite - Amy Hansen
Valentin - Grant Youngblood *
Siebel - Sally Mouzon *
Marthe - Darla Wigginton*
Wagner - Aram Barsamian

Conductor – Timm Rolek
Director – Gary Briggle

* Sacramento Opera début
The performances will be sung in French with supertitles.

SYNOPSIS

Faust
Charles Gounod

Prologue
An aged alchemist and necromancer, Doktor Heinrich Faust, failing once again to restore life to a stolen corpse, resolves to commit suicide in the face of God’s denial of his lifelong quest. The pangs of lust and regret cause him to hesitate, then bitterly invoke Satan as his only advocate. A mysterious “red monk” appears - Mephistopheles - with his minions (Fame, Youth, Power), to grant Faust’s desire for renewed virility, tempting him with a vision of the virgin Margeurite. Faust agrees to sell his soul to the Devil in exchange for the promise of her love, and is transformed into a potent young gentleman, with a similarly restored Mephistopheles as his companion.

ACT ONE

Scene One
At the town fair, all ranks of society mingle, encouraging drunken students to enlist in the army, and witnessing the initiation rites of a holy order of nuns. The young officer Valentin emerges from prayers in the church with a medallion of protection given to him by his sister, the novitiate Margeurite; he is about to leave for battle and admonishes his friends, including the libidinous adolescent Siebel and carefree student Wagner, to care for her in his absence. Mephistopheles, attended by his minions(The Deadly Sins), provides a blasphemous entertainment with his song about Greed as the preface to War. Valentin is incited to violence when Mephistopheles mocks his sister’s religious purity, but his sword is useless. Alarmed, the soldiers attempt to exorcise the presence of Evil. Faust arrives soon after, and seeking Margeurite in the crowd, attempts to escort her; she modestly rejects his advance.

Scene Two
The lovestruck Siebel leaves a bouquet for Margeurite by the brook in her garden. Faust, intoxicated with romance, apostrophizes her humble dwelling and the protective embrace of Nature. More cynical and worldly-wise, Mephistopheles leaves a splendid jewel case near Siebel’s simple token, as temptation to Margeurite’s vanity. The young girl discovers both gifts, but is rapturously enthralled with the dazzling jewels, arraying herself as the Queen of Heaven. Her meddling neighbor Marthe is not immune to male attentions either, and when Faust and Mephistopheles join the pair, she is seduced by the charming devil. Margeurite allows herself to be embraced by Faust, but is then suddenly overcome with shame. Aided and abetted by a demonic Mephistopheles, Faust consummates his rapacious lust.

INTERMISSION

ACT TWO
Scene One
Several months later,Valentin returns wounded but victorious with his ravaged regiment and lusty camp followers. While he seeks rest and refreshment, Mephistopheles lewdly serenades Margeurite, now an outcast mother, with his mocking lovesong. Faust, anguished with regret, is antagonized into a duel by the vengeful brother. Mephistopheles intervenes - Valentin is mortally wounded, and dying, he blames Margeurite and curses her for staining his honor and betraying her sacred vows.

Scene Two
Staggered by grief and despair, Margeurite lapses into a despondent nightmare, abandoning her newborn child to the elements. Dreaming fitfully, she longs for forgiveness, but imagines being renounced by the entire populace, pleading in anguish when Mephistopheles prounounces his final condemnation. Waking to discover that the infant has died, she is arrested for murder and taken to prison.

Scene Three
Mephistopheles has gained access to Margeurite’s cell, where she languishes in guilt-ridden madness. Faust attempts to rescue her, while she seeks refuge in fragile memory. Mephistopheles goads them impatiently to flee with him, but she resists, calling upon divine intercession. As she is taken to her doom, Heaven welcomes her repentant soul - while Faust is damned with a hellish servitude for all Eternity.