The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-06
THE CINCINNATI FESTIVAL.
Production of Faust" in the Supple
mentary Festival Last Night.
Pleasant Talk with Patti and NicOlini-Tho
Artistic Career of PATHS Present Hus-
band-Their Castle Home in Wales.


From Cincinnati Papers Of Yesterday.
The story of Faust is an open book to
most opera-goers al the present time. Charies
Francis Gounod's latest work, the oratorlo
Redemption" is being rehearsed prepare
tory to its performance at the Nav festival in
1884. He was born in Paris, on the Nth OF
June, 1918, and has made his name famous
through his works. of which Faust and
Romeo and Juliet" are best known here
The opera Faust is founded on the story
contained in Goethe's poem of that name, and
of the many who have attempted musical
portrayal of the incidents contained in the
story, it is believed that NJ Gounod has ad-
hered most faithfully to the Goethean idea.
He has scattered through the work a number
of arias and serenades that are all familiar
as for instance, the Jewel Song" for Mar
gherita Faust's serenade "Ceii de Amor"
Mephisto's serenade to his Catrina. and the
paintive ballad of the Norsemen, for the
heroine; and then also. the inspiring SOL
diers' march and chorus. Then. too, there is
the church scene in which Margherita is
constantly kent from her devotions by the
sarcastic calculations OF the demon who, UNI
seen, laughs fiendishly at her efforts to escape
his tolls, and the ruin he has wrought her
through his agent Faust, who has given his
soul as the price for his rejuvenation. The
death of the ruined girl and her repentance
and pardon, as declared i'll tine celestial
chorus occurring with the death scene, and
the contrtion of Faust. and the consterna-
ton of the demon at the sudden manifesto
ton of Almighty power. afford opportunity
for an intensely dramatic situation.
STORY OF FAUST.
Faust, German student, after life of
meditation and laborous research, becomes
disguised with the nothingness of human
knowledge, and his own inability to unravel
the mystic arcana of nature. He summons
IA. -...4
him under the form of Mephistopheles.
Through the supernatural power of the lat
ter, Faust is straightway restored to youth,
with all its passions and illusions, and is at
the same time endowed with personal beauty
and luxuriant garb. Mephistopheles as in
vision. reveals to him the beanteous village
maid, Margaret, with whom the student falls
instautaneousy in love. He longs to become
acquainted with her. and his wish is soon
afterward gcatifed Margaret equally noted
for her lOvelinesS and for her virtue. has
been left by her soldier brother Valentine,
under the care of Dame Martha, a worthy
but rot very vigilant parsonage. The maiden
at first rejects the strangers advances but
Faust. aided by the Economical influence of
Mephistopheles (whoi is anxious to destroy
another human soul) urges his suit with such
ardor that Margarets resistance is at
length overcome. Valentine, Margarets
brother, on returning with his
comrades from the wars, learns what has oc-
CURED; he challenges his sisters seducer, but,
through the Intervention OF Mephistopheles,
he is slain in the encounter. Margaret, hor-
ror-strcken at the calamity of which she is
the original cause. gives way to despair. Her
reason becomes affected, and, in a paroxysm
of frenzy. she kills her infant. For this
crime she is thrown into prison. Faust,
aided by Mephistopbeles, obtains access to
the cell in which she is immured. They
both eagerly urge her to fly, but Margaret,
In whom holier feelings have gained the
ascendant, spurns their proffered aid, and
places her sole reliance in prayer and repen-
lance. Overcome at last by sorrow and re-
morse with an earnest prayer for forgiveness
on her lips the unhappy girl expires.
Mephistopheles triumphs at the catastrophe
he has brought about, but chorus of heav-
emily voices is heard, procaiming that there
is pardon for the repentant sinner, and the
Evil One foiled and overcome, crouches sup
plainly rs the accents of divine love and
forgiveness make themselves heard while
the spirit of Margaret, borne by ministering
angels, is waited upward to its eternal home.