Indianapolis Opera Closes 2011-12 Season With FAUST, 5/4 & 5/6

Indianapolis Opera will close out the 2011-2012 season tonight May 4 and May 6 with Charles Gounod's Faust, set to French lyrics by Jules Barbier and Michael Carré. Faust will feature members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, conducted by James Caraher.

About Faust: Sell your soul to the Devil and there will be hell to pay. Old and disillusioned, Faust forfeits his soul to Méphistophélès in exchange for youth and pleasure. He seduces the virtuous Marguerite, then callously moves on, leaving her pregnant and ruined. In the end, taunted by Méphistophélès and threatened with damnation, Marguerite's only hope is to call upon the angels. Will they save her soul or will she join Faust in the vast abyss of Hell?

Faust is directed by artist in residence Joachim Schamberger, whose past successes include Das Rheingold, La Tragédie de Carmenand La Traviata. Schamberger chose to put a modern twist on the production with deference to the music and original medieval time period. Guonod's Faust will open in the modern laboratory of Professor Faust, a scholar of German Medieval times. As the story progresses, Faust will travel back to 16th century Germany to seduce, and ultimately ruin, the lovely Marguerite. "It is a little bit Da Vinci Code meets Guonod – or maybe Rosemary's Baby meets Guonod," says Schamberger. "Most of the production is performed in the original time period, except for a few brief moments that take place in the modern day."

The theme of responsibility plays heavily throughout Faust – in the end Faust must come to terms with his own role in his life and the other side of himself, the devil in us all. Much like Indianapolis Opera and Schamberger's critically acclaimed Das Rheingold of 2009,Faust will utilize large format projections that are designed to complement and enhance the physical sets, bringing movement and depth to the scenery. Indianapolis Opera's 2012 Faust is a newly designed, cutting edge production, never before performed by any other opera company. "The projections and staging bring a certain wow factor to the theater," promises Schamberger. "This isn't like any production of Faust you've ever seen before."

Schamberger is working hard to match the stage mood with the music, so the audience should be prepared for a gothic horror movie-like atmosphere with hauntingly beautiful music performed by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Faust will be performed in French with English super-titles. Approximate running time is three hours, including two 20-minute intermissions.

Cast List:

For more information, visit www.indyopera.org