Opera in three parts, five acts, in French, with Hungarian and English surtitles
Gounod’s French grand opera has been an indispensable element of any self-respecting opera company’s repertoire, and to this day remains among the most frequently performed operas.
The composer's aim was not an operatic adaptation of Goethe’s masterpiece. Born from the libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré was a perfumed and smoky drama spiced with elements of romance and horror, as well as gothic motifs: a story of romance, the supernatural, religion, and the eternal battle against satanic powers.