Hick-kicking cabaret, breath-taking ballet, sublime singing and Parisian passion will inspire cinemas audiences when The Royal Opera’s ‘Faust is broadcast live in UK cinemas on Tuesday 30 April 2019, with an encore screening on Sunday 5 May 2019.

Director David McVicar’s theatrical production will captivate audiences with its beautiful sets and costumes, and a stunning cast including American tenor Michael Fabiano as Faust, Uruguayan bass-baritone Erwin Schrott as the devil Méphistophélès and German soprano Diana Damrau as Faust’s beloved Marguerite. Faust is the French composer Charles-François Gounod’s greatest masterpiece and a favourite with opera audiences worldwide.

The opera tells the tale of the disillusioned philosopher Faust who loses faith in God and summons Satan to help him. The devil Méphistophélès appears and offers to make a bargain with Faust: he will give him youth and the young Marguerite’s love if Faust hands over his soul. Faust agrees, seduces Marguerite – but then abandons her, with disastrous consequences. Gounod’s superb score includes some devilish songs for Méphistophélès, Marguerite’s ecstatic ‘Jewel Song’ and a thrilling ballet in Act V. 

The Royal Opera House cinema broadcasts offer audiences the best seats in the house, and include exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and detailed close-ups of performers. Audiences are never far from a Royal Opera or Royal Ballet performance, with most UK viewers located within 30 miles of a cinema screening. In the 2017/18 Season more than one million people globally saw a world-class opera or ballet production from the Royal Opera House, at one of more than 1,500 cinemas in 51 countries. 

The cinema broadcast of Faust’ starts at 6.45pm and lasts three hours and 30 minutes including one interval. There is an encore screening on Sunday 5 May at 2pm. The opera will be sung in French with English surtitles.