Faust
09/04/2022 | |
19:30 | |
ATHENS | |
Greek National Opera | |
Greek National Opera |
GREEK NATIONAL OPERA
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
Conductor
Pierre Dumoussaud
Director – Choreographer – Movement coach
Renato Zanella
Performances:
06, 08, 09, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17 Apr 2022
Petros’ Performances:
To be announced
Starts: 19.30 (Sundays: 18.30)
This successful production, that premiered at Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall in 2012, is returning to the Greek National Opera to be presented at the Stavros Niarchos Hall for the first time, conducted by Pierre Dumoussaud and directed by Renato Zanella. Charles Gounod’s Faust is a shining example of the French grand opéra genre, and the first work of its kind to enjoy such international success. Faust was the most popular opera in the world from its 1859 debut in Paris roughly through to the Second World War. Only the storyline is taken from Goethe’s play, with Gounod’s Faust doing away with the work’s philosophical underpinnings: an elderly scholar, Faust, sells his soul to Méphistophélès in exchange for youth and love. The opera centres not so much on Faust as it does on Marguerite, who is transformed by love and ends up paying a terrible price for the choices she makes.
The director, Renato Zanella, a former GNO Ballet Director who also served as the Artistic Director of the Vienna State Opera Ballet for a number of years, has crafted an impressive production that shifts the action to a new setting: an old and empty lecture hall. There, all alone against a backdrop of blackboards densely inscribed with wisdom, Faust is tormented by fundamental questions concerning life and death, love and success. Inside his addled mind, Faust meets with Méphistophélès, who uses Marguerite to lead him into temptation, convincing him to sign a deal with the devil. Zanella notes: “My directorial approach moves away from both the supernatural and the religious facets of the work to place humankind –in all its weakness– at the heart of the action. Is Faust really made young again, or is Méphistophélès simply showing him what he wants to see? Do they really leave that space to visit other places and go on the most amazing adventures, or do they in fact never leave the lecture hall? Might this room actually be the inside of Faust’s head, packed so full of information that he cannot distinguish what is real from what is imaginary?”
The production stars such acclaimed Greek and international soloists as Ivan Magrì, Yannis Christopoulos, Irina Lungu, Vassiliki Karayanni, Yanni Yannissis, Tassos Apostolou, Petros Magoulas, and Dionysios Sourbis, among others.
Faust
Ivan Magrì (6, 9, 12, 16/4) / Yannis Christopoulos (8, 10, 14, 17/4)
Marguerite
Irina Lungu (6, 9, 12, 16/4) / Vassiliki Karayanni (8, 10, 14, 17/4)
Méphistophélès
Yanni Yannissis (6, 10, 16/4) / Tassos Apostolou (8, 12, 17/4) / Petros Magoulas (9, 14/4)
Valentin
Dionysios Sourbis (6, 9, 12, 16/4) / Nikos Kotenidis (8, 10, 14, 17/4)
Wagner
George Mattheakakis (6, 9, 12, 16/4) / Κostis Rasidakis (8, 10, 14, 17/4)
Siébel
Miranda Makrynioti (6, 9 ,12, 16/4) / Diamanti Kritsotaki (8, 10, 14, 17/4)
Marthe
Anna Agathonos (6, 9, 16, 17/4 / Chrysanthi Spitadi (8, 10, 12, 14/4)
With the GNO Orchestra , Chorus and Children’s Chorus (as part of its educational mission)
Ticket prices: €15, €20, €30, €35, €42, €50, €55, €70
Students, children:€12
Limited visibility seats: €10