Faust

Szenen aus Goethes Faust is one of the best-kept secrets of romantic dramatic music. Robert Schumann pays tribute to Goethe’s magnum opus with his own masterpiece. Both these artists transformed Faust and his pact with the devil into a unique and universal life’s work. Faust, an erudite and disenchanted man, has embarked on a fruitless quest to gain for unlimited knowledge. Mephistopheles lends a helping hand, in exchange for his immortal soul. Schumann captures the essence of this drama in seven iconic scenes. Just like Faust, the audience must ramble through a rich and varied landscape. Opera meets oratorio, an orchestral song is combined with polyphonic church music while a boys’ chorus warbles in the distance. Philippe Herreweghe unreservedly qualifies Szenes aus Goethes Faust as a masterpiece. He believes that Schumann’s theatrical score should be brought to the stage. Julian Rosefeldt, the director of films and installations such as Manifesto starring Cate Blanchett, has risen to the challenge. Together with the choreographer Femke Gyselinck, he transports Schumann’s Faust to the present day.