大象传媒

ACT I

Faust has spent a lifetime in the study of science. Disillusioned with life, he resolves to poison himself. He curses God and calls on the Devil. M茅phistoph茅l猫s obligingly appears and offers Faust riches, power, or glory. Faust, however, only wants to recapture the innocence of youth. M茅phistoph茅l猫s agrees to Faust鈥檚 request, but there are conditions: on earth Faust will be master, but in the world below their roles will be reversed. When Faust hesitates, M茅phistoph茅l猫s conjures up a vision of Marguerite. Faust signs the contract and returns to his youth.

ACT II

Valentin and Wagner are going off to war with the other soldiers, and Valentin is concerned about leaving his sister Marguerite unprotected. Wagner starts a song to cheer everyone up, but is interrupted by M茅phistoph茅l猫s. M茅phistoph茅l猫s tells fortunes: Wagner, it seems, will be killed in his first battle. The flowers that Si茅bel picks will wither, and Valentin will meet his death at the hands of someone close to M茅phistoph茅l猫s. Dissatisfied with the wine on offer, M茅phistoph茅l猫s conjures up a better vintage to toast Marguerite. This angers Valentin and both draw their swords. Valentin strikes out and his blade shatters. Everyone is convinced they are in the presence of the Devil. M茅phistoph茅l猫s leads Faust to a place where couples are dancing. Faust sees Marguerite and offers her his arm. She refuses, but so charmingly that he is left more entranced than before.

ACT III

Si茅bel gathers flowers for Marguerite outside her house. As M茅phistoph茅l猫s predicted, they wither, but holy water seems to restore them. M茅phistoph茅l猫s and Faust have been watching, and M茅phistoph茅l猫s leaves a box of jewels for Marguerite. The atmosphere of innocence surrounding Marguerite鈥檚 home moves Faust. Marguerite finds the jewels and puts them on. When she looks in the mirror, she sees a different woman and is further confused by the encouragement of her neighbour, Marthe. Faust and M茅phistoph茅l猫s return, and M茅phistoph茅l猫s flirts with Marthe, giving Faust the opportunity to seduce Marguerite. She begins to give in. M茅phistoph茅l猫s conjures up a garden and makes Marthe run off before disappearing himself. Marguerite realizes she loves Faust and they make love.

ACT IV

Seduced and abandoned, Marguerite is expecting Faust鈥檚 child. She is still in love with him and prays for him and their unborn child.

The soldiers return with Valentin. Si茅bel tries to stop him seeing Marguerite but Valentin, suspecting the worst, pushes him aside.

Outside her house, M茅phistoph茅l猫s serenades Marguerite on Faust鈥檚 behalf. Valentin and Faust fight and, with the intervention of M茅phistoph茅l猫s, Valentin is fatally wounded. Marguerite watches her brother die and hears him curse her with his last breath.

Distraught, Marguerite goes to church to pray for forgiveness. When she hears the voice of M茅phistoph茅l猫s telling her that she is damned, she collapses in terror.

ACT V

Walpurgis Night. Faust and M茅phistoph茅l猫s are surrounded by a group of demons. Faust is shown a vision of Marguerite: she has been imprisoned for infanticide and gone insane.

With M茅phistoph茅l猫s鈥檚 help, Faust goes to the prison in an attempt to save Marguerite. She seems to recognize her lover and recalls the night when he first seduced her. Faust is overwhelmed with pity. Marguerite panics at the sight of the Devil and, with a frantic appeal to heaven, she dies. M茅phistoph茅l猫s damns her but angelic voices proclaim she is saved.