30/10 – 1/11｜Friday to Sunday｜7:30pm
Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium
Tickets: MOP 600, 500, 400, 300
Composer: Charles Gounod (1818-1893)
Libretto: Jules Barbier (1825-1901) and Michel Carré (1821-1872)
Production: Lyric Opera of Chicago and Macao International Music Festival
Conductor: Lü Jia
Assistant Conductor: Yuan Ding
Original Stage Director: Frank Corsaro
Stage Director: Chas Rader-Shieber
Sets and Costumes: Robert Perdziola
Lighting Designer: Christopher Ostrom
Rehearsal Pianist: Roberto Moretti
Wig and Makeup Designer: David C. Zimmerman
Sets Construction: San Diego Opera Scenic Studio
Costumes Construction: Lyric Opera of Chicago, Marianne Krostyne,
Colonel Craig Nanno (Uniforms) and Lynn Mackie (Hats)
Fight Director: Andy Chan
Ballet: Shanghai Theatre Academy - Dance School
Ballet Choreographer: Chen Jianian
Choir Master: Francesco Costa
Coro Lirico Siciliano
Macao Orchestra
Characters and Cast
Faust (philosopher and metaphysician)
Diego Silva, Tenors
Méphistophélès (familiar spirit of hell) Wayne Tigges, Bass-baritone
Marguerite (young maiden)
Georgia Jarman, Sopranos
Valentin (soldier, Marguerite’s brother)
Troy Cook, Baritone
Siébel (youth, in love with Marguerite)
Alexandra Schenck, Mezzo-soprano
Wagner (Friend of Valentin)
David Greco, Baritone
Marthe (Marguerite’s guardian)
Irene Molinari, Mezzo-soprano
With his opera Faust , Charles Gounod created an extraordinary fusion of sublime melody, vocal challenge, and dramatic power. The drama centres on a disillusioned scholar who offers his soul to the devil in exchange for youth and the love of a beautiful girl. It quickly attracted audiences worldwide, and the addition of a complete ballet near the beginning of Act Five—frequently omitted in performances today—propelled Faust to its position of unchallenged popularity in France. In the best tradition of French grand opera, the work combines strongly defined aria forms with lyricism and expressive orchestration. Valentin’s “Avant de quitter ces lieux” is arguably the opera’s most immediately recognizable aria, and the musical characterisations of Marguerite and Méphistophélès are charming and ultimately irresistible. The stirring “Ah! Je ris de me voir” and the “Choeur des Soldats” turn Faust into a musically entrancing and romantic evening in the opera house.
The Macao Orchestra, under the direction of Lü Jia, joins forces with the Coro Lirico Siciliano and Lyric Opera of Chicago in a lavish and stunning production of Faust. Featuring innovative stage, costume and set designs, Lyric Opera of Chicago has played host to some of the greatest singers and performers over the years. Industrious, warm-hearted, resourceful, and ambitious, the Lyric is a unique and profoundly professional outfit that looks back at over 50 years of superb operatic history. Supported by a stellar musical cast, this production is sure to invigorate your senses by revisiting one of the most influential and popular works from the glory days of French grand opera.
* This production of Faust is owned by Lyric Opera of Chicago and was made possible by the generous sponsorship of The Port, Washlow, and Errant Families.
Performed in French, with Chinese, Portuguese and English surtitles
Duration: approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes, including two intervals