22.06.2022

ELEANOR LYONS in Schumann’s "Scenes from Goethe’s Faust" in Antwerp

The conductor Philippe Herreweghe considers Schumann’s Szenen aus Goethes Faust nothing less than a masterpiece. In his opinion, Schumann’s composition cries out for a visual staging. In this new production in Antwerp, this staging is the responsibility of Julian Rosenfeldt, the director of films and installations such as Manifesto (2015) featuring Cate Blanchett. Together with the choreographer Femke Gyselinck, he resolutely brings Schumann’s Faust into the here-and-now, enriching the Faustian scenes with a multi-faceted counterpoint of video, dance and drama.

Eleanor Lyons, who will also make her debut as the Countess in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro in Antwerp next year, appearing under the baton of Marie Jacquot, lends her voice and impressive stage presence to the roles of Gretchen and Una Poenitentium in this new production.

Cast 

Rafael Fingerlos, Faust | Doktor Marianus
Eleanor Lyons, Gretchen | Una Poenitentium
Ilker Arcayürek, Ariel | Pater Ecstaticus | Pater Seraphicus
Sam Carl, Mephistopheles | Böser Geist | Pater Profundus
Lore Binon, Sorge | Magna Peccatrix
Sara Jo Benoot, Mangel | Mater Gloriosa | Mulier Samaritana
Zofia Hanna, Marthe | Schuld | Maria Aegyptiaca
Elisa Soster, Not

Philippe Herreweghe, conductor
Julian Rosefeldt, direction and film
Femke Gyselinck, choreography
Sammy Van den Heuvel, scenography
Matthias Singer, lighting desgin
Birgitt Kilian, costume design
Tobias Staab | Katherina Lindekens, dramaturgy
Jan Schweiger, chorus master
Hendrik Derolez, children's chorus master