The Teatro Principal de Palma has launched its 41st opera season with a performance of Faust, one of the most iconic works in the French lyrical repertoire by Charles Gounod. The production will take place in the Sala Gran on 28 and 30 October at 20:00, and on 1 November at 18:00.
Llorenç Galmés, president of the Consell de Mallorca, remarked that "the opera season at the Teatro Principal de Palma is one of the major cultural events in Mallorca and exemplifies the island institution's commitment to high-quality artistic programming that brings international productions to the public."
Miquel Martorell, director of the Teatro Principal, added that "Faust is a production notable for its ambitious staging, visual beauty, and ability to transport the audience to a realm of profound poetic strength. Presenting this original version with dialogues in French in Palma is an exceptional opportunity and a testament to the level of the season we are commencing."
More than 120 artists and professionals are involved in this technically and musically complex production, which is distinguished by its meticulous aesthetic and the poetic dimension of the staging. The performance arrives in Palma as a spectacular scenic production from Opéra de Lille, in co-production with Opéra-Comique (Paris) and Palazzetto Bru Zane - Centre for French Romantic Music (Venice), having premiered in the French capital just over a year ago.
This version recaptures the original format first performed at the Théâtre-Lyrique in Paris on 19 March 1859, notable for its inclusion of spoken passages. The staging is directed by Denis Podalydès, with musical direction by Alejandro Cantalapiedra and revival direction by Laurent Delvert.
The cast features internationally and nationally acclaimed soloists, including Nicolás Cavallier (Méphistophélès), Sunnyboy Dladla (Faust), Verónica Granatiero (Marguerite), Yiorgo Ioannou (Valentín), the Mallorcan Begoña Gómez (Siebel), and Laura Vila (Dame Marthe). The ensemble also includes local talents Joan Miquel Muñoz (Wagner) and Jordi Fontana (Captaire), a member of the Cor del Teatre Principal.
One of the major attractions of this production is the costume design by the renowned designer Christian Lacroix. The set design is by Éric Ruf, and the lighting by Bertrand Couderc, noted for its technical complexity. Dancers Louise Carrière and Elsa Tagawa will perform with choreography by Cécile Bon, alongside actors Léo Reynaud and Alexis Debieuvre. The Cor del Teatro Principal and the Orquestra Simfònica de les Illes Balears complete the artistic ensemble for this opera.
Charles Gounod's Faust is among the most celebrated and frequently performed works in the French lyrical repertoire. The opera is a significant piece of the grand opéra genre that solidified the composer's international reputation. Its origins lie in the famous play by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, specifically the first part of his Faust. Captivated by the myth of the scholar who sells his soul to the devil for eternal youth, Gounod collaborated with librettists Jules Barbier and Michel Carré to shape this work. The last performance of Faust at the Teatro Principal de Palma took place on 28 June 2009, as part of the XXIII Opera Season.
