Relayed from Sadler's Wells
Cast in order of appearance: [see below]

The story of the version of the Faust legend of Gounod's famous opera is roughly based on that of Goethe. The curtain rises on the aged figure of Faust seated in his study poring over old volumes of philosophy and necromancy. He sings of his weariness of life, and the futility of learning. From outside comes the music of dancing and Easter Day rejoicing, and Faust, still more hopelessly, resolves to end his life. But before he drains he cup of oblivion, and as a last hope that his youth can be restored to him, he calls on the powers of evil for aid. Mephistopheles then suddenly appears, prepared to grant him his youth in return for a mere trifle-his soul. To gain his consent, the subtle devil causes a vision of Marguerite to appear before Faust, who can no longer resist and the compact is sealed. The scene changes. It is the market square of a small German town at Kermesse (fair) time. The citizens are merry-making, and one after another the students, girls, old men. and soldiers give way to lusty singing of the delights of wine, love, and war. Valentine, a soldier, and brother of Marguerite, now enters. He is off to the wars, and sings of a medallion his sister has given him as a charm. He commends the care of his sister to a young fellow called Siebel. Then general jollity breaks out afresh. As Wagner, a leader of the students, is singing the 'Song of the Rat,' Mephistopheles comes up to them (later followed by Faust), and offers to sing the company a better song. He gives them the 'Song of the Calf of Gold.' This and Mephistopheles subsequent behaviour, however, strike his hearers as strange, and they come to distrust him more and more, till drawing their swords to drive him away they find they are powerless and withdraw quickly from the scene. leaving Faust and Mephistopheles talking together. The act ends with a gay chorus in a waltz rhythm, interrupted in the middle by the appearance of Marguerite, shyly diffident when she is spoken to by Faust. The curtain falls on the dancing citizens.