Faust

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Synopsis
 

The catchy melody, the colorful orchestration and worked out the detailed musical structure owes Gounod's Faust to their continued popularity today.

1. Act
Association office, plagued by a longing for death, cursing all the aging Faust, which he had clung earlier: happiness, patience, faith, knowledge, fame and love. But every time he drinks the poison with which he would put an end to his life is to his lips, he is the happy and godly singing the amount that comes from outside into the study, conducted by suicide. In desperation, Faust finally calls Satan, who appears to him in the form of Mephistopheles once. For the price of his soul, he promises that "the treasure which contains all" - the vanished youth. Faust's initial reluctance to accept the pact, overcoming Mephistopheles, Faust by having seen a vision of the beautiful Marguerite. Attracted by the wonderful sight, signs the Treaty of thumb and turns into a young man.

2. Act
On a popular festival attracts Méphistophélès quickly all the attention by the song of the Golden Calf impressively sings about the power of money. A little later he manages to irritate those two people standing near the Marguerite: Siebel, Marguerite loves her and secretly worried about her brother, the soldier Valentin. Faust itself offers Marguerite, who is located also in the crowd at his party, but rejects this out of hand.

3. Act
Marguerite is impressed against their will by Faust and always think back to the man foreign to them This is Mephistopheles, who continue pulling the strings, easy game. He can find a jewelry box Marguerite to wake her vanity. In Marguerite's garden, it comes at the instigation of Mephistopheles' to the next meeting between Faust and Marguerite, in which the two finally come closer. Marthe, Marguerite's neighbor, meanwhile, is distracted by Mephistopheles. Faust's confession of love Marguerite is happy deep, but rejects his request, the night to be allowed to stay with her, the time being. But when Faust is already removed, she calls him back with love.

4. Act
Marguerite, who is shunned by her friends, longs for Faust, who has apparently separated from her forever. Only Siébel tried to donate Marguerite consolation. In desperation, turns to Marguerite in a church to God to implore his forgiveness. But Mephistopheles interferes with their prayers. Finally, it is possible Méphistophélès also bring about a duel between Faust and Marguerite's brother Valentin in which Valentin is mortally wounded.

5. Act
Mephistopheles takes Faust on Walpurgis Night, where it is to be seduced by beautiful courtesans and queens of the ancient world. But Faust sees a vision of Marguerite, who has killed her child mental confusion. On request, Faust's Mephistopheles leads him to Marguerite in prison. But this refuses to Mephistopheles and Faust to flee, entrusts himself to God and thereby save their souls.

Program and cast

Vienna State Opera

Public Transport
 

Subway lines: U1, U2, U4
Trams: 1, 2, D, J, 62, 65
Buses: 59A
Local Railway: Badner Bahn
Stops: Karlsplatz / Opera

Taxi stands are available nearby.
 

Parking



Parking is only € 6, - for eight hours!

The Wiener Staatsoper and the ÖPARK Kärntner Ring Garage on Mahlerstraße 8, under the “Ringstraßengalerien”, offer the patrons of the Vienna State Opera a new, reduced parking fee. You can park in the Kärntner Ring Garage for up to 8 hours and pay only a flat fee of € 6, -. Just validate your ticket at one of the discount machines inside the Wiener Staatsoper. The normal rate will be charged for parking time greater than 8 hours. The validation machines can be found at the following coat checks: Operngasse, Herbert von Karajan-Platz, and the right and left and balcony galleries.

Important: In order to get the discount, please draw a ticket and do not use your credit card when entering the garage!

After devaluing your ticket in the Wiener Staatsoper you can pay comfortably by credit card or cash at the vending machines.

The machines accept coins and bills up to 50.- Euro. Parking time longer than 8 hours will be charged at the normal rate.
 

History



The structure of the opera house was planned by the Viennese architect August Sicard von Sicardsburg, while the inside was designed by interior decorator Eduard van der Nüll. It was also impacted by other major artists such as Moritz von Schwind, who painted the frescoes in the foyer, and the famous "Zauberflöten" (“Magic Flute”) series of frescoes on the veranda. Neither of the architects survived to see the opening of ‘their’ opera house: the sensitive van der Nüll committed suicide, and his friend Sicardsburg died of a stroke soon afterwards.

 

On May 25, 1869, the opera house solemnly opened with Mozart's Don Giovanni in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.
The popularity of the building grew under the artistic influence of the first directors: Franz von Dingelstedt, Johann Herbeck, Franz Jauner, and Wilhelm Jahn. The Vienna opera experienced its first high point under the direction of Gustav Mahler. He completely transformed the outdated performance system, increased the precision and timing of the performances, and also utilized the experience of other noteworthy artists, such as Alfred Roller, for the formation of new stage aesthetics.

 

The years 1938 to 1945 were a dark chapter in the history of the opera house. Under the Nazis, many members of the house were driven out, pursued, and killed, and many works were not allowed to be played.

 

On March 12, 1945, the opera house was devastated during a bombing, but on May 1, 1945, the “State Opera in the Volksoper” opened with a performance of Mozart's THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. On October 6, 1945, the hastily restored “Theaters an der Wien” reopened with Beethoven's FIDELIO. For the next ten years the Vienna State Opera operated in two venues while the true headquarters was being rebuilt at a great expense.

 

The Secretary of State for Public Works, Julius Raab, announced on May 24, 1945, that reconstruction of the Vienna State Opera would begin immediately. Only the main facade, the grand staircase, and the Schwind Foyer had been spared from the bombs. On November 5, 1955, the Vienna State Opera reopened with a new auditorium and modernized technology. Under the direction of Karl Böhm, Beethoven’s FIDELIO was brilliantly performed, and the opening ceremonies were broadcast by Austrian television. The whole world understood that life was beginning again for this country that had just regained its independence.

 

Today, the Vienna State Opera is considered one of the most important opera houses in the world; in particular, it is the house with the largest repertoire. It has been under the direction of Dominique Meyer since September 1, 2010.

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