Faust (The Royal Opera House)

God and Satan war over earth; to settle things, they wager on the soul of Faust, a learned and prayerful alchemist.

A very free adaptation of Marlowe's 'Doctor Faustus', Goethe's 'Faust' and various other treatments of the old legend of the man who sold his soul to the devil. A nondescript man is lured by a strange map into a sinister puppet theatre, where he finds himself immersed in an indescribably weird version of the play, blending live actors, clay animation and giant puppets.

Disillusioned with life, the aged philosopher Faust calls upon Satan to help him. The devil Méphistophélès appears and strikes a bargain with the philosopher: he will give him youth and the love of the beautiful Marguerite, if Faust hands over his soul. Faust agrees, and Méphistophélès arranges matters so that Marguerite loses interest in her suitor Siébel and becomes infatuated with Faust. Faust initially seems to love Marguerite in return, but soon abandons her. Her brother Valentin returns from the war and is furious to find his sister pregnant. Will Faust repent his destructive actions, and can his soul, and Marguerite's, be saved?

After straight-arrow district attorney Joseph Foster says in frustration that he would sell his soul to bring down a local mob boss, a smooth-talking stranger named Nick Beal shows up with enough evidence to seal a conviction. When that success leads Foster to run for governor, Beal's unearthly hold on him turns the previously honest man corrupt, much to the displeasure of his wife and his steadfast minister.

Faust, an old, bright but desperate man, struggles with the sense of his life. After trying all kinds of sciences he enters into a contract with the devil, Mephistopheles, to feel life, joy and desire again. Mephistopheles promises him to get full satisfaction by enjoying and celebrating all the worldly pleasures: outstanding parties, being young again, the love of a woman. To fulfill the pact, Faust offers him his soul after his death. Their journey begins and leaves many people in total despair...

A doctor in early 19th-century Germany becomes infatuated with the sister of a man he unintentionally killed and bargains with the Devil incarnate to conjure their union in exchange for his soul.

Vincent Salinger, an edgy uninspired poet, fumes at being spurned by his publisher. Suspecting his work and life mean nothing, Vincent seeks new inspiration. An unexpected visit from quasi-demonic friend of poetry introduces Vincent to a clever East-European escort girl who thinks up a literary hoax for success but at the risk of Vincent losing his integrity and identity. Things become more complicated when a rival muse falls in love with Vincent and Vincent's hoax suddenly materializes to haunt him.

Inspired by Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus and Goethe's Faust, Faustus develops an obsession with his namesake, Johann Georg Faust. As Faustus delves deeper into man and legend, he enters a labyrinthine realm.

When a dedicated college professor is denied tenure, he turns to black magic in a moment of desperation but finds himself trapped in a private hell of his own making.

In an epic tale of good versus evil, Faust sells his soul to the Devil and tries to save Marguerite from an eternity in Hell.

‘La course à l’abîme’ is a depiction of the final ride into hell from ‘La Damnation de Faust’ (1846) by Hector Berlioz.