111083-85 bk FaustEU 13/04/2005 12:04pm Page 12 discard the gold chain she wears and to suffer his curse 9 Alone with Marguerite, Faust is haunted by fear and ADD on earth, if God may pardon her hereafter. His dying remorse. He calls to her, as she lies sleeping, and she Great Opera Performances words shock the bystanders and he is carried into the wakes at the sound of her lover’s voice. 8.111083-85 house, while Siebel supports Marguerite, who is 0 Marguerite responds to her lover, declaring that she distraught. now has no fear of death and recalling her past happiness, the street where they first met, their first contact. He urges her to make her escape, but, delirious, 3 CDs CD 3 she refuses. GOUNOD ! Méphistophélès returns, urging haste, but Act IV recognised for what he is by Marguerite, who prays to the angels to take her soul to heaven. Faust seeks her Faust Scene 1 escape, prompted by Méphistophélès, as a noise is 1 The Walpurgisnacht ballet scene follows. It is set in heard outside, and Marguerite continues her prayers for Jussi Björling • Dorothy Kirsten • Cesare Siepi the Harz Mountains, where Méphistophélès introduces salvation. Faust to his own empire. @ Finally Marguerite pushes Faust away from her, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York • Fausto Cleva 2 There is a dance of Nubian slaves. horrified at what she sees as a threatening look and 3 The mountain opens to reveal a vast gilded palace, hands covered with blood and sinking senseless to the Recorded in 1950 with, in the middle, a fine table, surrounded by the ground. Méphistophélès declares that she is now queens and courtesans of antiquity. Méphistophélès judged, but voices of angels are heard, proclaiming offers Faust a place here, until dawn breaks. Marguerite’s salvation. The bells of Easter ring out, the 4 A dance of these figures from antiquity follows. walls of the prison fall open and the soul of Marguerite 5 There is a Mirror Variation. ascends to heaven. Faust falls on his knees in prayer, 6 This leads to the dance of the Trojan women. while Méphistophélès is held at bay under the sword of 7 The ballet ends with the dance of the famous Greek the archangel. Voices hymn the resurrection of Christ, courtesan Phryne. as the curtain falls. Scene 2 Keith Anderson 8 Faust would be rid of Méphistophélès, who offers him the means to rescue Marguerite, who lies in prison, condemned to death for the murder of her baby. 8.111083-85 12 111083-85 bk FaustEU 13/04/2005 12:04pm Page 2 Faust and Marguerite stroll away in the garden, leaving scene in which Marguerite is seen praying, while the the other two alone together, with Méphistophélès in voice of Méphistophélès is heard trying to prevent her mock flirtation with Marthe. and summoning devils to his aid. He tells her that it is 2 Méphistophélès and Marthe move away, as Faust Hell that calls her. A celestial choir is heard, but he tells Great Opera Performance and Marguerite return. He asks her if she is always her that God will never pardon her. She turns, however, alone and she tells him that her brother is a soldier and to prayer, in spite of his recalling of her days of love. Charles that her mother is dead, as is her younger sister. The voice of Méphistophélès is heard calling down a Méphistophélès and Marthe return, he telling her that it curse on her. She falls down, fainting, and the scene GOUNOD is time for him to set out on his travels again, while she closes with the triumphant sound of the organ. (1818-1892) protests. Faust, meanwhile, urges his love for Marguerite, and she, as it grows dark, tells him he Scene 2 should go. Méphistophélès has had enough of his 8 The scene is a street, on one side Marguerite’s Faust flirtation with this old woman who wanted to marry the house and on the other a church. The soldiers are An Opera in 4 Acts Devil. Siebel enters the garden, but Marthe sends him returning, singing in celebration, as they march in. away, and they leave together. 9 Valentin learns from Siebel that all is not well with 3 Méphistophélès watches the two lovers, Faust and Marguerite, but Siebel cannot prevent him entering the Faust . Jussi Björling Marguerite, and casts his spell of love over them, before house, while he himself turns to the church. Méphistophélès . Cesare Siepi withdrawing into the shadows. Méphistophélès appears with Faust, urging him to go 4 Marguerite seeks to enter her house, but Faust begs into the house, while Faust hesitates to bring further Valentin . Frank Guarrera her to stay and pleads his love for her. She picks a daisy, trouble there. Wagner . Lawrence Davidson plucking the petals to see whether Faust really loves 0 Méphistophélès sings a mock serenade, Siebel . Anne Bollinger her. They embrace and promise to love each other for accompanying himself on a guitar and punctuating the ever. performance with fiendish laughter. Faust tries to Marguerite . Dorothy Kirsten 5 They sing of their love and Marguerite declares that silence him, but Méphistophélès continues his serenade Martha . Thelma Votipka she would die for him. She begs him to go and finally of feigned love. runs into the house, blowing him a kiss, as she goes in. ! Valentin bursts out of the house, angrily seeking to Orchestra and Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera • Fausto Cleva Faust makes towards the door, but Méphistophélès know what the two want. He takes his sword and emerges to bar his way. smashes the guitar and demands satisfaction of one of Metropolitan Opera broadcast 6 Méphistophélès tells him to listen to what them. They draw their swords and Valentin and Faust 23rd December 1950 Marguerite has to say to the stars. She opens her fight. Valentin casts aside the holy medal given him by window, and leans there for a moment, before singing his sister, to the delight of Méphistophélès, who turns of her love and Faust’s love for her. He leaps forward to the blade of Faust, unwilling to harm his beloved the window and seizes her hand and she lets her head Marguerite’s brother, so that Valentin falls, mortally fall on his shoulder, as Méphistophélès leaves the wounded. Méphistophélès draws Faust away from the garden with a burst of diabolical laughter. scene. @ Marthe rushes in, with a group of neighbours, Act III anxious to help Valentin. They are joined by Marguerite, who falls on her knees beside her brother, Scene 1 and by Siebel. Valentin, however, repulses her, telling 7 Marguerite’s spinning-song and the following her that he has foolishly sought a quarrel with her lover, scene with Siebel are omitted. There follows the church a declaration that shocks the onlookers. He tells her to 8.111083-85 2 11 8.111083-85 111083-85 bk FaustEU 13/04/2005 12:04pm Page 10 foretelling his death at the hands of one he knows. He messengers of his love, but as he plucks a flower, it CD 1 74:34 @ Ainsi que la brise légère 2:47 takes a beaker from Wagner and drinks their health. The fades, the work of the sorcerer he had encountered. He ( Chorus, Méphistophélès, Faust, Siebel) wine, though, is bad, he says, and offers them some picks a second flower, with the same result, and dips his 1 Introduction 5:33 from his own cellar. Climbing onto a bench he taps on a hand into a stoup of holy water, on the wall of the (Orchestra) # Ne permettrez-vous pas 3:34 small barrel with the sign of Bacchus on it, calling on house. Now the flowers do not wilt and he withdraws (Faust, Marguerite, Siebel, Méphistophélès, Lord Bacchus and then on the company to drink to into the shrubbery. Act 1 44:11 Chorus) Marguerite. Valentin, angry, seizes the beaker from ^ Faust and Méphistophélès enter the garden, but Méphistophélès and throws the contents down, at which withdraw as Siebel returns with a bouquet, which he Scene 1 Act 2 24:50 the wine bursts into flames. He challenges leaves by the door of the house. Méphistophélès 2 Rien!… En vain j’interroge 5:31 Méphistophélès, and the students and their friends draw promises to provide Faust with something much more (Faust) $ Introduction 1:36 their swords. Méphistophélès draws a circle round valuable and leaves him for a moment. (Orchestra) himself with his sword and those seeking to attack him & Faust is overwhelmed by the sight of Marguerite’s 3 Ah! Paresseuse fille 2:41 find themselves thwarted, while Valentin’s sword house, a chaste and pure dwelling for one who is (Faust, Choeur) % Faites-lui mes aveux 3:17 breaks. Valentin accuses Méphistophélès of devilry and innocent. Méphistophélès returns carrying a jewel (Siebel) they all now hold their swords up by the blade, forming casket, but Faust now has scruples about his behaviour. 4 Mais ce Dieu, que peut-il pour moi? 6:09 crosses, to check the power of the Devil. Méphistophélès puts the casket down on the doorstep (Faust, Méphistophélès) ^ C’est ici! 2:05 Méphistophélès draws back and the company disperses. and they both leave. (Faust, Méphistophélès, Siebel) ! Méphistophélès sheathes his sword, promising that * Marguerite enters the garden, wondering who the 5 O merveille!… 4:13 they shall all meet again, and asks Faust, who now joins young man is, surely a great lord, and what his name is. (Faust, Méphistophélès) & Que trouble inconnu me pénètre!… 8:05 him, where he should begin.