Théâtre des Champs-Elysées tickets 15 November 2025 - La Damnation de Faust | GoComGo.com

La Damnation de Faust

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris, France
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6 PM
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US$ 116

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Important Info
Type: Opera
City: Paris, France
Starts at: 18:00
Duration: 2h 10min
Sung in: French
Titles in: French,English

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Cast
Performers
Tenor: Benjamin Bernheim (Faust)
Conductor: Jakob Lehmann
Baritone: Christian Van Horn (Méphistophélès)
Orchestra: Les Siècles
Choir: Maîtrise de Radio France
Choir: Radio France Choir
Bass: Thomas Dolié (Brander)
Mezzo-Soprano: Viktoria Karkacheva (Marguerite)
Creators
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Librettist: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Director: Silvia Costa
Overview

Goethe and Berlioz with a masterpiece of French Romanticism.

New production

La Damnation de Faust certainly belongs to that category of works whose fate seems to be suspended in time. Berlioz took almost twenty years to complete this “dramatic legend”, as it is described in its subtitle, a visionary project which treads a tightrope between a grand opera (which it would subsequently become) and a symphonic poem (a genre in which the French musician rivalled Strauss). He was instantly captivated by Gérard de Nerval’s translation of Goethe’s Faust and the idea of setting the legend to music haunted him for many years. 
We are delighted to welcome a fresh young artistic team to perform this major work which epitomizes the Romantic aesthetic. In the autumn of 2024, the musical rapport between the young conductor Jakob Lehmann and the musicians of Les Siècles was very obvious. Berlioz will be their first opportunity to work together in the orchestra pit. For the last ten years, the young director Silvia Costa has been creating visual and poetic theatre informed by research on the imaginary. This multi-facetted and inventive artist draws on all aspects of the arts to explore the workings of drama. 
Benjamin Bernheim will be taking this opportunity to tackle a new role, which is probably one of the most demanding in the French operatic repertoire.

Production at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
In collaboration with the Palazzetto Bru Zane – Center for French Romantic Music

History
Premiere of this production: 06 December 1846, Opéra-Comique in Paris

La damnation de Faust (English: The Damnation of Faust) is a work for four solo voices, full seven-part chorus, a large children's chorus and orchestra by the French composer Hector Berlioz. He called it a "légende dramatique" (dramatic legend). It was first performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 6 December 1846.

Synopsis

Part I

The aging scholar Faust contemplates the renewal of nature. Hearing peasants sing and dance, he realizes that their simple happiness is something he will never experience. An army marches past in the distance (Hungarian March). Faust doesn't understand why the soldiers are so enthusiastic about glory and fame.

Part II
Depressed, Faust has returned to his study. Even the search for wisdom can no longer inspire him. Tired of life, he is about to commit suicide when the sound of church bells and an Easter hymn remind him of his youth, when he still had faith in religion. Suddenly Méphistophélès appears, ironically commenting on Faust's apparent conversion. He offers to take him on a journey, promising him the restoration of his youth, knowledge, and the fulfillment of all his wishes. Faust accepts.

Méphistophélès and Faust arrive at Auerbach's tavern in Leipzig, where Brander, a student, sings a song about a rat whose high life in a kitchen is ended by a dose of poison. The other guests offer an ironic "Amen", and Méphistophélès continues with another song about a flea that brings his relatives to infest a whole royal court (Song of the Flea). Disgusted by the vulgarity of it all, Faust demands to be taken somewhere else.

On a meadow by the Elbe, Méphistophélès shows Faust a dream vision of a beautiful woman named Marguerite, causing Faust to fall in love with her. He calls out her name, and Méphistophélès promises to lead Faust to her. Together with a group of students and soldiers, they enter the town where she lives.

Part III

Faust and Méphistophélès hide in Marguerite's room. Faust feels that he will find in her, his ideal of a pure and innocent woman ("Merci, doux crépuscule!"). Marguerite enters and sings a ballad about the King of Thule, who always remained sadly faithful to his lost love ("Autrefois, un roi de Thulé"). Méphistophélès summons spirits to enchant and deceive the girl and sings a sarcastic serenade outside her window, predicting her loss of innocence. When the spirits have vanished, Faust steps forward. Marguerite admits that she has dreamed of him, just as he has dreamed of her, and they declare their love for each other. Just then, Méphistophélès bursts in, warning them that the girl's reputation must be saved: the neighbors have learned that there is a man in Marguerite's room and have called her mother to the scene. After a hasty goodbye, Faust and Méphistophélès escape.

Part IV

Faust has seduced, then abandoned Marguerite, who still awaits his return ("D'amour l'ardente flamme"). She can hear soldiers and students in the distance, which reminds her of the night Faust first came to her house. But this time he is not among them.

Faust calls upon nature to cure him of his world-weariness ("Nature immense, impénétrable et fière"). Méphistophélès appears and tells him that Marguerite is in prison. While awaiting Faust's return, she has given her mother the sleeping potion Faust had previously provided to calm her mother during their nights of love, and used it so often that she has killed the old woman, and now is to be hanged the next day. Faust panics, but Méphistophélès claims he can save her—if Faust relinquishes his soul to him. Unable to think of anything but saving Marguerite, Faust agrees. The two ride off on a pair of black horses.

Thinking they are on their way to Marguerite, Faust becomes terrified when he sees demonic apparitions. The landscape becomes more and more horrible and grotesque, and Faust finally realizes that Méphistophélès has taken him directly into hell. Demons and damned spirits greet Méphistophélès in a mysterious infernal language and welcome Faust among them.

Hell has fallen silent after Faust's arrival—the torment he suffers is unspeakable. Marguerite is saved and welcomed into heaven.

Venue Info

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées - Paris
Location   15 Avenue Montaigne

The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is an entertainment venue situated near Avenue des Champs-Élysées, from which it takes its name. Its eponymous main hall may seat up to 1,905 people.

Commissioned by impresario Gabriel Astruc, the theatre was built from 1911 to 1913 upon the designs of brothers Auguste Perret and Gustave Perret following a scheme by Henry van de Velde, and became the first example of Art Deco architecture in the city. Less than two months after its inauguration, the Théâtre hosted the world premiere of the Ballets Russes' Rite of Spring, which provoked one of the most famous classical music riots.

At present, the theatre shows about three staged opera productions a year, mostly baroque or chamber works more suited to the modest size of its stage and orchestra pit. It also houses an important concert season. It is the home venue of the Orchestre National de France and the Orchestre Lamoureux and serves as a French base for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra as well.

The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Orchestre des Champs-Élysées and Ensemble orchestral de Paris play most of their concerts here too, along with other dance, chamber music, recital, and pop events.

Important Info
Type: Opera
City: Paris, France
Starts at: 18:00
Duration: 2h 10min
Sung in: French
Titles in: French,English
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