Opera Guide—Mefistofele (Mephistopheles)
Italian Opera by Arrigo Boito Based on Goethe's Faust
Nov 3, 2009
The Faust legend has long been popular in literature and music; popular operas include Faust by Charles Gounod, The Damnation of Faust by Hector Berlioz, and Mefistofele by Arrigo Boito. The latter opera, with a libretto by the composer himself (who also wrote libretti for Verdi's Otello and Falstaff), was one of the few musical works to address the second half of Goethe's Faust.
Consequently, the first performance, in Milan on March 5, 1868, was a dismal failure, lasting over six hours. Boito shortened and revised Mefistofele over the course of eight years into a form more accessible to most operatic audiences.
Characters in Mefistofele
- Mefistofele (Mephistopheles), the Devil (Bass)
- Faust (Dr. Johann Faustus), a philosopher (Tenor)
- Wagner, his student (Tenor)
- Margherite, a peasant (Soprano)
- Martha, her mother (Contralto)
- Helen of Troy (Soprano)
- Pantalis, her companion (Contralto)
- Nereo, an attendant (Tenor)
Synopsis of Mefistofele
Prologue
Mephistopheles sticks his head into Heaven and bets the Heavenly Hosts that he can tempt Faust into sinning.
Act I
Scene 1—Frankfurt am Main
It is Easter Sunday during the Middle Ages. Faust and Wagner observe the celebrating crowds and speak of philosophy. Faust sees a Gray Friar and notices something supernatural about him.
Scene 2—Faust's Study
Faust praises natural goodness (Dei campi, dei prati). The Gray Friar reveals himself as Mephistopheles, the Devil, and describes his evil nature ("Whistle Aria"). Faust signs a contract exchanging the Devil's earthly service for his soul.
Act II
Scene 1—Margherite's Garden
Faust attempts to seduce a young girl, Margherite, and Mephistopheles her mother, Martha.
Scene 2—Brocken Peak
Mephistopheles takes Faust up to the heights of the mountains and shows him a chorus of witches enacting Satanic rites. Faust sees a vision of Margherite in chains, but cannot help her.
Act III—Margherite's Prison Cell
Margherite has killed both her mother and her illegitimate child and is about to be executed. Faust and Mephistopheles arrive to help her, but she refuses to leave. She prays to Heaven and dies; Mephistopheles hopes to win her soul, but an angelic chorus descends to bring her to Heaven (È salva).
Act IV—Ancient Greece
Mephistopheles has transported Faust to ancient Greece to seek out the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Troy. They sing a love duet while the chorus and Nereo look on.
Epilogue—Faust's Study
Faust is now an old man; Mephistopheles still tries to tempt him, but he has been reformed, and prays to God. Faust no longer seeks earthly beauty, but the gates of Heaven. He dies and is forgiven, and so Mephistopheles loses his bet.
Sources:
- Boito, Arrigo. Mefistofele (Score).
- Simon, Henry W. 100 Great Operas and Their Stories. Garden City: Dolphin, 1960.
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