Mefistofele Cast Synopsis_Synopsis 8/27/13 11:02 AM Page 1
SYNOPSIS MEFISTOFELE
PROLOGUE she cannot face a life of remorse. When Mefistofele orders Faust In Heaven. A heavenly choir praises the Lord; Mefistofele appears to leave with him, Margherita prays for forgiveness and renounces and mockingly addresses God, apologizing for his lack of a halo. He Faust. A celestial choir proclaims Margherita’s salvation. complains that God’s worldly creation, Man, has become so degenerate that he is not worth tempting any more. A mystical choir ACT IV asks him if he knows Faust. Mefistofele does indeed and wagers to Classical Walpurgis Night. In his quest for the perfection of art and trap the aging, fanatical scholar. Mefistofele boasts to the Creator beauty, Faust has been transported by Mefistofele to ancient that by ensnaring Faust he will finally triumph over God. The scene Greece. Elena (Helen of Troy) and her companion Pantalis sere- ends with a hymn of praise to the Master of the Heavens. nade the full moon. In the distance, Faust is heard calling for Elena. As the two women leave, Faust enters, enchanted with his ACT I surroundings. Mefistofele, however, feels uncomfortably out of Scene 1: Easter Sunday. Faust and his student Wagner join the hol- place. Elena reappears, obsessed by a nightmare vision of the iday crowd. The old scholar notices the first signs of spring; a destruction of Troy. She receives Faust, who declares his love for group of townspeople begins a country dance. After the crowds her—the embodiment of pure and ideal beauty. They pledge their leave, Wagner and Faust notice a monk, the sight of whom greatly love and contemplate life together. disturbs the old man. Scene 2: The Pact. In his study, Faust prepares to meditate on the EPILOGUE Bible when a piercing cry is heard and the mysterious monk The Death of Faust. In his study, Faust reflects on his past: the love appears. Faust invokes the powerful sign of Solomon, which forces of the real woman brought only suffering, while that of the god- Mefistofele to abandon his monk’s disguise. He introduces him- dess was an illusion. Mefistofele despairs that Faust has still not self as the spirit that negates and destroys everything. Mefistofele experienced the supreme moment. Realizing that death is near, offers his services to Faust on Earth, with the condition that their Faust invokes another dream, one in which he would rule wisely positions be reversed after Faust’s death. Faust accepts, provided over prosperous people in a peaceful world. Mefistofele, fearing that he find just one moment of true happiness that he could greet that his victim will escape him, urges Faust to accompany him with the words, “Stay, for you are beautiful!” The contract is signed once again. But Faust, now enraptured in his heavenly vision, and Mefistofele transports Faust away. speaks the fatal words, “Stay, for you are beautiful!” and dies redeemed. Mefistofele, although defeated, whistles in defiance. ACT II Scene 1: The Garden. The rejuvenated Faust (now calling himself Enrico) courts Margherita, while Mefistofele distracts her neighbor First performance: Milan, La Scala, March 5, 1868. Marta. Margherita asks Faust about his religious beliefs, but he Revised version: Bologna, October 4, 1875. says he seeks an even deeper truth: the mystery of love. He per- First U.S. performance: Boston, November 16, 1880 (in English). suades Margherita to let him visit her at home and gives her a sleeping potion (provided by Mefistofele) for her mother. Faust First San Francisco Opera performance: October 1, 1923. reassures Margherita that her mother will come to no harm as Mefistofele has been performed in six previous San Francisco both couples declare their love. Opera seasons. For complete information, visit Scene 2: Walpurgis Night. Mefistofele urges Faust up the moun- archive.sfopera.com. tains to witness the Witches’ Sabbath. Witches and warlocks Personnel: 6 principals, 90 choristers, 30 children choristers, appear; Mefistofele demands obeisance as their king. They present 12 dancers, 45 supernumeraries; 183 total. him with the attributes of his power and a symbol of the world, which he derides and destroys. Faust suddenly sees a vision of a Orchestra: 3 flutes (2 doubling piccolo), 2 oboes young girl in chains who resembles Margherita. Mefistofele tries (1 doubling English horn), 2 clarinets (1 doubling bass clarinet), to dismiss it as a trick of imagination, but Faust realizes that the 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 cimbasso, woman with a ring of blood around her neck is indeed the girl he 1 timpani, 3 percussion, 2 harps; regular (40) strings. abandoned. The revels continue. Backstage: 3 trumpets, 3 horns, 3 trombones, percussion, organ. ACT III A complete list of the members from the San Francisco Girls The Death of Margherita. The imprisoned Margherita, condemned Chorus (SFGC) and the San Francisco Boys Chorus (SFBC) to death for poisoning her mother and drowning the child she appearing in this production can be found at the end of the bore Faust, has lost her reason. Faust begs Mefistofele to save her; artist profiles. They are led by Lisa Bielawa, Artistic Director, the devil denies responsibility, but promises to do what he can. He and Elizabeth Avakian, Chorus School Director, SFGC; and produces a key and Faust enters the prison. At first, Margherita Ian Robertson, Artistic Director, and Margaret Nomura Clark, thinks she is being led to execution but then recognizes Faust and Associate Artistic Director, SFBC. starts to relive their past. Faust wants her to escape with him, but