Faust – Grand Opera In All Its Glory
Director Sir David McVicar sets this grand scale production of Gounod’s Faust for Opera Australia, among the decadence and debauchery of 1870s Paris. The brilliant young Italian conductor Lorenzo Passerini will make his Australian debut, with the soloists, dancers, the Opera Australia Chorus and Orchestra, performing Gounod’s bold and demanding score. This production was first seen in Sydney in 2015 when the demand for tickets was so high an extra performance was added to the schedule.
Italian tenor Ivan Magrì will make his role debut as Faust. A regular performer at opera houses around the world, Magrì’s returns to the Sydney Opera House following his debut as Rodolfo in La Bohème in 2019. Teddy Tahu Rhodes, brings his his powerful voice, commanding stage presence and devilish theatrics to the stage as Faust’s Satanic companion, Méphistophélès. Superstar Russian soprano Irina Lungu sings the role of the ill-fated Marguerite, a role she recently performed at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden.
Anna Dowsley is set for another stellar performance in a pants role as Siébel with her fellow OA principals Michael Honeyman, Dominica Matthews and Richard Anderson also in the cast.
Charles Edwards’ glorious sets bring McVicar’s vision of Paris to life and include the reconstruction of the Cabaret L’Enfer, a hell-themed nightclub in Montmartre in the late 19th century, and the Church of Saint-Séverin on Paris’ Left Bank. Faust is a wild ride through the streets of the French capital, with its tale of romance, temptation and the age-old battle between good and evil. It is grand opera in all its glory!
The creatives: Conductor Lorenzo Passerini/ Director & Choreographer Sir David McVicar/ Revival Director Shane Placentino/ Set Designer Charles Edwards/ Costume Designer Brigitte Reiffenstuel/ Lighting Designer Paule Constable/Choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan
Fight Director Nigel Poulton
The cast: Faust Ivan Magrì/Marguerite Irina Lungu/Méphistophélès Teddy Tahu Rhodes/Valentin Michael Honeyman/Siébel Anna Dowsley/Marthe Dominica Matthews/ Wagner Richard Anderson
Opera Australia Chorus/ Opera Australia Orchestra
Selected evenings and matinees from February 10 – March 11.
Running time: Approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes including one interval/ Performed in French with English surtitles.
Based on the co-production by Royal Opera Covent Garden, Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Opéra de Lille, and Fondazione Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi, Trieste and first performed at Covent Garden.
Single adult tickets from $48 (fees may apply)/Group and concession prices available for most performances/ Student Rush available for most performances
Bookings or Opera Australia Box Office (02) 9318 8200
