HD Screening
The Paris Opera & Ballet
Charles Gounod’s Faust

US Premiere

Online: Monday, December 6–Monday, December 13, 2021

In Person: Sunday, December 5, 2021
1pm
FIAF Florence Gould Hall

“A meaningful, beautiful, effective, modern, and magical production. Benjamin Bernheim and Ermonela Jaho deliver superstar quality performances.”Operawire

The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) is proud to partner with the American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet to present the fifth consecutive season of The Paris Opera & Ballet HD screenings, bringing the company’s premier music and dance productions to New York audiences, both virtually and in person.

Join us for a new production of Charles Gounod’s Faust, directed by Tobias Kratzer and conducted by Lorenzo Viotti.

“I want a treasure, which contains them all! I want youth!” Frustrated by the futile quest for knowledge, the erudite old Faust (French tenor Benjamin Bernheim) sells his soul to the devil (Christian Van Horn) in exchange for eternal youth and the beautiful Marguerite (superstar soprano Ermonela Jaho). Florian Sempey sings the role of Marguerite’s brother Valentin, a soldier.

For his Paris Opera debut, German director Tobias Kratzer reflects on contemporary society’s obsession with eternal youth. With its sophisticated scenography, his production oscillates between hyperrealism and magic, the world of today and the eerie atmosphere of German romanticism.

Opera in five acts (1859)
In-person Screening: Approx. 4 hours including two intermissions
Virtual Screening: 3 hours and 25 minutes
In French with English subtitles

Watch Trailer

  • View Cast & Creative Team
    • Faust, Benjamin Bernheim
      Mephistopheles, Christian Van Horn
      Marguerite, Ermonela Jaho
      Valentin, Florian Sempey
      Siébel, Michèle Losier
      Wagner, Christian Helmer
      Dame Marthe, Sylvie Brunet-Grupposo
      Aged Faust, Jean-Yves Chilot

      Music: Charles Gounod
      Libretto: Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
      Conductor: Lorenzo Viotti
      Stage director: Tobias Kratzer
      Set and costume design: Rainer Sellmaier
      Lighting design: Michael Bauer
      Video: Manuel Braun
      Chorus master: José Luis Basso
      Paris Opera Orchestra and Chorus
      Film Director: Julien Condemine

      Presented by Alain Duault

The Paris Opera & Ballet

The Paris Opera & Ballet is a world cultural treasure with a rich history that underpins an innovative, vital present.

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    • The Paris Opera traces its beginnings to King Louis XIV of France, who established a formal academy of music and dance at court in 1669. Over the centuries, the company has undergone many transformations as a public institution. Today the 430-member company of musicians and dancers, led by general director Alexander Neef, ballet director Aurelie Dupont, and newly appointed music director Gustavo Dudamel, collaborates with acclaimed directors, choreographers, and singers, and enjoys a position as one of the leading opera and ballet institutions in the world.

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American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet

Incorporated by Rudolf Nureyev in 1984 and based in New York, the American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet (AFPOB) is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit organization that raises funds to support the Paris Opera and promote French-American artistic exchange.

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    • AFPOB invites individual, foundation and corporate donors to become members or sponsors and enjoy access to exclusive benefits and events both in France and the United States, as well as significant tax advantages. Thanks to the active support of its Trustees, donors and members, AFPOB has supported numerous US tours and guest appearances, developed educational programs and created funds that support young and talented artists through scholarships. AFPOB contributes to underwrite productions at the Paris Opera featuring leading American artists, such as Jerome Robbins, Trisha Brown, William Christie, Peter Sellars, and Robert Wilson, with your help. Join AFPOB in creating and fostering more opportunities to further support and encourage the French-American artistic exchange.

      Learn more at afpob.org