Faust

Faust is the archetype of human arrogance, and it is Gounod’s opera that reminds us of it. Garden scenes, duels and sentimental tricks of a seducer give way to the metaphysics of Walpurgis Night, the angelic choirs over Marguerite and Valentin’s farewell to the world. We also start our performance with Goethe’s text. However, it will be the Dedication and dialogue between the Director of the theatre and the Poet. A surprising tradition of romantic dramas, precisely on the first pages of the original editions, provides the keys to interpretation. It combines the spiritual dimension with journalism, that is, with the author’s everyday life, his views and historical context. It sounds like a commentary to the opera convention, which, although built on artificiality, refers to “here and now” and to “you and us”, that is, the modern spectator and their idol on stage. Our Faust means the struggle of an old, dying director, his attempt to confront the past, his muses, inspiration, professional burnout. It is he who tries to resurrect Goethe’s text in an empty theatre audience, after an unsuccessful rehearsal, before the cancelled premiere. And here the game with quotes, with the history of Krakow masters, famous performances, important events, theatre, Poland begins. In order to return to them and “feel something” again, the only solution is to buy time – Youth. However, Mephisto guides our hero toward the carnal pleasures that are thoughtless and easy. But our Faust will not be tempted and will leave Marguerite to seek other depths of existence. His journey into the world of classics will lead him to new frustration and return to Marguerite so as to save her: against himself, against the world, but not against God and his angelic hosts.

This opera opens us to many worlds – those which are tangible and those in the dreams. Will a rejuvenated hero find solace? Will the entry into the world of memories compensate us for our inability to cope with the passing time and our own arrogance, the hybris that makes us forget that we are only a grain of sand in this enormous metaphysical reality called life?

 

Michał Znaniecki 
director, set designer