Overview
Synopsis
Mefistofele makes a wager with heaven that he can prove there is not one redeemable man in the whole world, and he means to do so by tempting the most scholarly and most pious man he can think of: Doctor Faust himself. He visits Faust on Easter Sunday, and makes him an offer: in exchange for his soul, Mefistofele will give Faust everything he desires. Faust immediately accepts.
Stepping onto Mefistofele鈥檚 magic cloak, the two of them embark on an adventure where Faust will fall in love again and again, and have everything his heart desires. Faust is returned to his youth, and together they witness a Witches鈥� Sabbath, and join Helen of Troy in Elysium. But, ultimately, it was all in vain. The more Faust experiences, the more empty it all seems. He returns to his books, with the conviction that he should never have left them, and it is there he dies, offering himself to god. As in 骋辞别迟丑别鈥檚 original, Faust is accepted into heaven, and Mefistofele is left with nothing.
叠辞颈迟辞鈥檚 Mefistofele is an operatic feast of choruses, dances, satanic ritual, and heavenly rapture.
Show Information
- Music
- Arrigo Boito
- Libretto
- Arrigo Boito
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Faust, Part One and Part Two
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 4
- First Produced
- 1875
- Genres
- Drama, Horror
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Spectacle, Fantasy/Imaginary, Period
- Time & Place
- Heaven, Hell, Frankfurt, 1800s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Arrigo Boito is probably known better for his librettos, rather than his compositions, but he did turn his hand to writing several operas in his lifetime. The first of these, and the only one he completed was Mefistofele. Based on both parts of 骋辞别迟丑别鈥檚 Faust, the opera underwent considerable revision after its first performances in 1858, which were subject to rather unpleasant reviews. 叠辞颈迟辞鈥檚 newly revised version of the opera, with four acts, plus a prologue and
to read the context for Mefistofele and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Prologue
In heaven
In heaven, a celestial chorus is singing the praises of their most holy Lord (鈥楢ve, Signor degli angeli e dei santi鈥�). At the end of their song of praise, Mefistofele appears, joining in with the last line. He stands with his feet on the edge of his cloak, and asks to be pardoned for his lateness, and for not being the perfect singer, or having the perfect face (鈥楢ve, Signor鈥�). Mefistofele brings his reports from his observations of humans, and the news is not good;
to read the plot for Mefistofele and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Contralto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Contralto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
Prologue
- Prelude: 鈥楢ve, Signor degli angeli e dei santi鈥� - Chorus (La Falangi Celesti)
- 鈥楢ve, Signor鈥� - Mefistofele
- 鈥楾鈥櫭� noto Faust? 鈥� Il pi霉 bizzarro pazzo鈥� - Chorus (Coro Mysticus), Mefistofele
- 鈥楽anctus! Sanctus!鈥� - Chorus (La Falangi Celesti)
- 鈥楽iam nimbi volanti dai limbi鈥� - Mefistofele, Chorus (Cherubini)
- 鈥楽alve, Regina!鈥� - Chorus
Act 1
Scene 1
- 鈥楶erch茅 di l脿?鈥� - Chorus
- 鈥楢l soave raggiar di primavera鈥� - Faust, Wagner
- 鈥楯uh猫! Juh猫! Juheisa! Juh猫!鈥� - Chorus (Popolani)
- 鈥楽ediam sovra quel sasso鈥� - Faust, Wagner, Chorus
Scene 2
- 鈥楧ai campi, dai prati鈥� - Faust, Mefistofele
- 鈥楽on lo spirito che nega鈥� - Mefistofele
- 鈥楽e tu mi doni un鈥檕ra di roposo鈥� - Faust, Mefistofele
- 鈥楩in da stanotte鈥� - Mefistofele, Faust
Act 2
Scene 1
- 鈥楥avaliero illustre e saggio鈥� - Margherita, Faust, Mefistofele, Marta
- 鈥楧immi, se credi, Enrico, nella religione鈥� Non vo鈥檛urber le fedi delle coscienze buone鈥� - Margherita, Faust
- 鈥楧io clemente, nuove, ignara son del mondo 鈥�. E l鈥檃nalito superno鈥� Ah! Davver? N茅 in trappola cadest Ancor? 鈥� Non so, credetelo, che sia l鈥檃more鈥� - Margherita, Faust, Marta, Mefistofele
Scene 2
- 鈥楽u, cammina, cammina, cammina鈥� - Mefistofele
- 鈥楩olletto, folletto, folletto!鈥� - Faust, Mefistofele, Chorus, Streghe, Stregoni
- 鈥楶opoli! E scettro e clamide non date al Re sovrano?鈥� - Mefistofele, Streghe, Stregoni
- 鈥楨cco il mondo?鈥� - Mefistofele, Streghe, Stregoni
- 鈥楽tupor! Stupor!鈥� - Mefistofele, Faust, Streghe, Stregoni
Act 3
- 鈥楲鈥檃ltra notte in fondo al mare鈥� - Margherita, Faust, Mefistofele
- 鈥楧io di piet脿!鈥� - Margherita, Faust
- 鈥楲ontano, Lontano, Lontano鈥� - Margherita, Faust
- 鈥楽orge il d矛鈥� - Mefisteofele, Margherita, Faust
- 鈥楽punta 鈥� L鈥檃urora pallida鈥� - Margherita, Faust, Mefistofele, Chorus (La Falangi Celesti)
Act 4
- 鈥楲a luna immobile innonda鈥� - Elena, Pantalis, Faust
- 鈥楨cco la notte del classico sabba鈥� - Mefistofele, Faust
- 鈥楢h! Trionfi ad Elena鈥� - Coretidi (Chorus)
- 鈥楴otte cupa, truce, senza fine, funebrei鈥� - Elena, Coretidi
- 鈥楩orma ideal purissima della bellezza eternal鈥� - Faust, Elena, Mefistofele, Pantalis, Nereo, Coretidi
Epilogue
- 鈥極 rimembranza!鈥� - Faust, Mefistofele
- 鈥楪iunto sul passo estremo鈥� - Faust, Mefistofele
- 鈥楢ll鈥檈rta! All鈥檈rta!鈥� - Mefistofele, Faust, Chorus (La Falangi Celesti, Cherubini)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.