Hector Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust comes to the Vienna State Opera in December 2026 in a new production by Lydia Steier. Inspired by Goethe’s Faust, Berlioz’s dramatic legend combines intimate lyricism, spectacular choral writing and an extraordinary orchestral imagination in the story of Faust, Marguerite and Méphistophélès.
The production marks the first staged presentation of La Damnation de Faust at the Vienna State Opera, making this December run a notable addition to the 2026–27 season.
Performance details
- Venue: Vienna State Opera
- Language: French
- Subtitles: French, English, German and other languages available at the seats
- Duration: Approx. 3h, with 1 intermission
Ticket information
- E-tickets: Sent by email as PDF files
- Seating: Seats are together unless otherwise stated
Berlioz’s visionary journey through the Faust legend
La Damnation de Faust occupies a world somewhere between opera, oratorio and symphonic drama. Berlioz called it a légende dramatique, and its rapidly changing scenes move with an almost cinematic freedom from solitude and celebration to love, nightmare and damnation.
Faust has lost his joy in life when Méphistophélès appears, promising pleasure, excitement and fulfillment. Their journey brings Faust to Marguerite, but the relationship becomes destructive. In an attempt to save her, Faust ultimately gives his soul to Méphistophélès and descends into hell, while Marguerite finds redemption.
Berlioz was deeply influenced by Goethe’s Faust, which he first encountered in Gérard de Nerval’s French translation in the 1820s. Rather than simply setting Goethe’s drama, he transformed it into a highly personal musical work, ranging from Marguerite’s intimate songs to large-scale choruses and some of the most vivid orchestral writing of the 19th century.
At the Vienna State Opera, Lydia Steier directs a new production, with sets by Barbara Ehnes, costumes by Ursula Kudrna and video by Chris Kondek. The staging brings a work long associated with the concert hall fully onto the Staatsoper stage for the first time.
- Conductor: Bertrand de Billy
- Marguerite: Eve-Maud Hubeaux
- Faust: John Osborn
- Méphistophélès: Christian Van Horn
- Brander: Simonas Strazdas
- Production: Lydia Steier
- Sets: Barbara Ehnes
- Costumes: Ursula Kudrna
- Lighting: Olaf Freese
- Video: Chris Kondek
- Choreography & associate direction: Tabatha McFadyen
Cast may vary by performance date
La Damnation de Faust at the Vienna State Opera in December 2026
Following the pre-premiere performance on 14 December, the new production premieres on 17 December 2026, with further performances on 20, 23, 27 and 29 December.
With Berlioz’s richly imaginative score, an international cast and a completely new staging, La Damnation de Faust is one of the major new opera productions at the Vienna State Opera during the 2026–27 season.
More opera at the Vienna State Opera
Discover more major productions in the 2026–27 season:
- Carmen at the Vienna State Opera
- The Barber of Seville at the Vienna State Opera
- La Bohème at the Vienna State Opera
