Last night’s rehearsal covered all of Act 1. Excellent performances from both the principals and the chorus. The scenes are now really coming together.
Here are some pictures from the Golden Calf Scene
Rehearsal Act 1 – 3rd Oct
Author: mwillis
Cast and Production Team
Cast
Margerita: Chloe Seywell
Faust: Mark Ellse
Mephistopheles: Nigel Rothery
Valentine: Mike Willis
Siebel: Debra Finch
Wagner: Jeremy Craven
Marthe: Mary McCready
Understudies
Margerita: Sophia Carroll
Faust: Gareth Lloyd
Mephistopheles: Gavin Magenty
Production
Musical Director: Gavin Usher
Director: Gavin Magenty
Choreographer: Hayley Watts
Costume: Leigh-Anne Schofield
Stage Manager: Paul Sparshott
Deputy Stage Manager: (DSM) Hannah Newton
Assistant Stage Manager: (Flying) TBC – University
Lighting Design: Pete Brown
Set Design: David Smith
- SCO – Faust Performers
Last Night's Faust Rehearsal
Went through Act 3 of Faust including Church scene and Valentine’s Death Scene – very emotional especially since I was the one dying!
About SCO's Faust
Faust burns to find the secret of eternal youth. Still the mechanism of anti-aging eludes him. Enter Mephistopheles. As he tempts and teases with voluptuous visions, Faust sizzles with renewed vigour. Women and hell-raising beckon. Soul-death seems a small price to pay.
In one tantalising vision he encounters Marguerite, a young girl who embodies all of Faust’s lost innocence. He yearns to possess her.
To this end, Faust morphs into a bizarre rakish figure from his Victorian youth. Assisted by Mephistopheles’ machinations, Faust’s seductive campaign begins with jewels. Bathed in luciferic light, Marguerite is dazzled by them. She sings her delight in her famous aria ‘The Jewel Song’.
This is a production filled with contrasts: peasants sing happy songs of summer off-stage whilst Mephistopheles wreaks havoc on-stage; First World War soldiors display a touching camaraderie as they sing Gounod’s hearty drinking song. Meanwhile the frozen certainties of the previous century are beginning to move and crack. Wrongness is all around.
There’s a see-saw of musical contrasts too. The Devil’s choir does not have all the best tunes. The music that accompanies Marguerite’s redemption is Gounod at his most sublime.
There is much to resonate with modern audiences in this Gothic tale of good and evil, duels to the death, curses and redemption.
It’s also music to die for.
Samples from the production at the Royal Opera House
Avant de quitter ces lieux
Alons amis!… le veau d’or
Valentin`s death
Schedule for SCO Faust 2012 (updated)
The New Schedule can be viewed here.
Faust chorus sections
Act I
p9,sys1,bar1 [Women]
Ah, Still asleep and dreaming, Naughty lazy girl?
See the morning gleaming, Bathed in rosy pearl.
The skylarks are voicing Their song all the while,
Harvest fields rejoicing In dawn’s golden smile
Near the brook and bower, Coos the turtle dove,
Every budding flower Awaken{s to?} love,
Every budding flower Awaken{s to?} love,
p11,sys4,bar1 [Men]
We go to reap in field and meadow, while high above we see the swallow
Ascend to heights no eye can follow, Lost in endless heavens of blue!
The day is fair, the earth is smiling
We go to reap in field and meadow.
The day is fair, the earth is smiling,
Praise be to God! Praise be to God! Praise be to God!
p13,sys2,bar6 [women join]
Praise be to God!
p31-53 Fair Scene
p56, sys1,bar 3 [Men?] “You are a faithful friend”
p60, sys3, bar2 [Men?],
Come on! Drink on! And sing a merry song, a merry song to speed us along
p66, sys1, bar1 (Refrain to Song of the Golden Calf x2)
Satan leads the merry ball, the merry ball, the merry ball!
Satan leads the merry ball, the merry ball, the merry ball!”
p67, sys 1, bar 3 [Men?] (Straight after the Golden Calf)
We thank you for your song
p72, sys1, bar1 [Men?] (Echoing Wagner) “On guard!”
p73, sys1, bar1 [Men?]
By the fiend of hell we have been defeated!
By the fiend of hell we have been defeated!
There’s no human hand that can stay his power!
There’s no human hand that can stay his power!
…(valentine sings)…
But you who can shatter a sword, We know you!
…(valentine sings)…
Behold this cross which guards us all from evil!
Behold this cross which guards us all from evil!”
p82, sys5, bar1
Light and swift as summery breezes, Our feet barely touch on the ground
As we dance the merry round, To the music’s lilting sound.
Light and swift as summery breezes, Our feet barely touch on the ground
As we dance the merry round, To the music’s lilting sound.
To the waltzes sweeping measure , Happy voices adding pleasure
As the flute and trumpet blow, Round and round the dancers go!
To the waltzes sweeping measure , Happy voices adding pleasure
As the flute and trumpet blow, Round and round the dancers go!
p87, sys3, bar1 [Women]
Since when must a girl ask a young man to dance with her?
p88, sys1, bar1
Light and swift as summery breezes, Our feet barely touch on the ground
As we dance the merry round, To the music’s lilting sound.
To the waltzes sweeping measure , Happy voices adding pleasure
As the flute and trumpet blow, Round and round the dancers go!
p94, sys4, bar1 [Women]
What was that ? Margarita refused to be escorted by that noble stranger
p94, sys5, bar3 [Men]
Dancing! Dancing! Waltzing! On with the dance!
Dancing! Waltzing! On with the dance!
Let’s dance again! Let’s dance again! Another dance!
p96, sys1,bar1 [All]
Light and swift as summery breezes, Our feet barely touch on the ground
As we dance the merry round, To the music’s lilting sound.
To the waltzes sweeping measure , Happy voices adding pleasure
As the flute and trumpet blow, Round and round the dancers go!
— CUT —
See how they are swirling, Wildly they swing,
The dancers are whirling, Pleasure is king!
See how they are swirling, Wildly they swing,
The dancers are whirling, Pleasure is king!
Act II – no chorus
Act III
p180, sys 4, bar 4 [Women]
The gallant stranger ran away! Where did he go ?
Ha ha! ha ha! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
p195, sys 4, bar 2 [Chorus of Demons] “Margarita! Margarita!”
p199, sys3, bar 1 [Chorus of Priests and boys]
When the judgment trumpets thunder
Then the cross shall shine in splendour
And the Universe pass away.
p200, sys 5, bar 1 [Chorus of Priests etc]
Who will help me, Who will guide me?
Who will shield me, Stand beside me
When the blameless souls too must fear?
p202, sys3, bar 2 [Chorus of Priests etc]
O Lord, O Lord, shed the light of Thy mercy
On those in despair, On those in despair!
Ease the pain of anguish and mis’ry,
Of those in despair, Of those in despair, despair!
p208, sys1, bar1 [Soldier’s Chorus]
Hail to the heroes of long ago
Men who courageously met the foe
We fought like you for the cause of right,
Our spirit is high, our spirit is high,Our honour is bright,
For you dear native land, Let our banner fly,
At your call and command We will gladly die.
Proud and happy we are, we have won the fight,
The battle is done, The victory is won,
Our honour is bright
Hail to the heroes of long ago,
Men who courageously met the foe
We fought like you for the cause of right,
Our spirits are high, our honour is bright.
Now we are home, our duty done, The time has come for celebration.
Let us rejoice, the vict’ry’s won, the vict’ry’s won,
A happy day for ev’ryone
Sweet hearts and friends await us here
Amid the festive jubilation,
And later on they’ll gather near, they’ll gather near
To hear, {B:to hear/T:the tales} the thrilling tales about the war
They’ll gather near, {B:And later on,} and later on they’ll gather near to hear the tales, the thrilling tales about the war.
We’re coming home, the war is won, our duty’s done we’re coming home!
Hail to the heroes of long ago,
Men who courageously met the foe
We fought like you for the cause of right,
Our spirit is high, our honor is bright.
Our spirit is high, our spirit is high, our honor is bright.
Our spirit is high, our spirit is high, our spirit is high, our honor is bright.
p241, sys1, bar 3
[Women] Over here, over here, come at once, In the street they are fighting!
Right here, one of them fell, Come and look, here he is.
p242, sys2, bar 1
[All] He is hurt but alive, I can see he is breathing.
Quick over here, It’s certain he needs help,
Hurry up, hurry up, we have to give him help.
p244, sys3, bar 1
Her lover’s sword!
He fought her lover,
His sword has dealt the mortal blow!
p249, sys 1, bar 1
Dreadful curse! Unrelenting! Will you die unrepenting?
Pray and forgive ! Pray and forgive!
You will soon meet your Maker, forgive her,
As you beg God’s forgiveness today.
p252, sys 2, bar 1
May God have mercy on him and his soul
And forgive.
p297, sys 1, bar 1
Salvation!
Christ the redeemer lives
Deum laudamus
Peace and goodwill on earth!
Gloria in excelsis!
Christ rose unto Heaven!
Te Deum laudamus
Christ the redeemer lives!
Chorus Parts for Faust – Performed by South Yorkshire Opera
Old recording of South Yorkshire Opera’s performance of Faust.
1. Still Asleep and Dreaming
2. We go to reap in field and meadow
3. Fair Scene
4. You are a faithful friend
5. Come on Drink on
6. Satan leads the merry ball second time
7. By the fiend of hell
8. Light and swift (part 1)
9. Light and swift (part 2)
10. Margarita
11. When the judgement trumpets thunder
12. O Lord O Lord shed the light
13. Soldiers Chorus
14. Death of Valentine (part 1)
15. Death of valentine (part 2)
16. Apotheosis
Full Faust recording from South Yorkshire Opera
FAUST – Sheffield City Opera production Oct 31st – 3rd Nov 2012
Faust
This year Sheffield City Opera is performing a production of Charles Gounod’s Faust at the Montgomery Theatre.
As the production evolves we will be placing information, peek performances, interviews and blogs of the cast as they prepare for the opera.
View More information on our website.