
audiobook
by Jules Barbier, Michel Carré, Charles Gounod
An elegant five‑act lyric drama set to Charles Gounod’s soaring melodies, this opera weaves a timeless tale of longing, temptation, and fragile love. The libretto, drawn from Goethe’s celebrated version, focuses on the tender romance that has become the heart of the story, allowing the music to linger on intimate emotions as much as on grand supernatural scenes.
In the opening act, the weary scholar Faust stands on the brink of despair, ready to end his life after a lifetime of fruitless pursuits. A chorus of joyful maidens and the humble chants of reapers halt his fatal resolve, stirring a sudden fury that summons the devilish Mephistopheles. The demonic broker offers wealth and power, yet Faust’s true desire is the renewal of youth and the fleeting pleasures it promises, setting the stage for a pact that will reshape his destiny.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (100K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Colin Bell, Paul Marshall, Joseph Cooper and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2014-05-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1825–1901
Best known as the librettist behind some of 19th-century France’s most enduring operas, he helped shape stories that still fill theaters today. His writing joined literary flair with a strong sense of stagecraft, making fantasy, romance, and drama feel vividly singable.
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1819–1872
A French playwright and librettist, he helped bring some of 19th-century opera’s most enduring stories to the stage. He is especially remembered for the texts behind works that became classics, including Faust and Les contes d’Hoffmann.
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1818–1893
Best known for the opera Faust, he helped shape French Romantic music with melodies that feel both elegant and deeply human. His music also lives on through Roméo et Juliette, sacred works, and the much-loved Ave Maria.
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