Mefistofeles

A Faustian tale in an evocative operatic setting with stunning choral scenes and a fascinating demonic bass title character.

Mefistofele is the composer and poet Arrigo Boito’s one and only completed opera. It boasts mesmerising choral scenes, such as the Chorus Mysticus in the Prologue and the Witches’ Sabbath in Act 2. What is more, the title role affords a great opportunity for basses, who since the early the 20th century have passed the baton, starting with the legendary Fyodor Chaliapin or the no less amazing Czech bass Vilém Zítek.

Mefistofele was first performed in Prague in February 1881 at the Estates Theatre. The production was also taken up by the newly opened Neues deutsches Theater (now the State Opera), in 1888 and 1897. The National Theatre first presented Mefistofele on 9 December 1885, then in 1896 and, finally, 1936 and 1942, with the celebrated bass Vilém Zítek in the title role. The current Prague production, staged by the renowned drama and opera director Ivan Krejčí, premiered at the State Opera in 2015.

• Approximate running time: 3 hours 10 minutes, 2 intermission (20 minutes) minutes
• Language: In Italian, surtitles in Czech, English

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