The Teatre Principal de Palma has successfully concluded its run of Charles Gounod's opera Faust, marking the opening of its 41st Opera Season with a sold-out performance on 1 November. The production, which received acclaim from both audiences and critics, attracted a total of 2,658 spectators over its performances.
On the final day, the theatre welcomed 751 attendees, filling its capacity. Earlier performances included 664 spectators on 28 October, 697 on 30 October, and a general rehearsal on 26 October that drew 546 attendees.
Antònia Roca, the Vice President of the Consell de Mallorca and Councillor for Culture and Heritage, attended the final performance and praised the audience's enthusiastic response. She stated, "It is gratifying to see how the people of Mallorca embrace high-quality lyrical proposals and how the Teatre Principal continues to offer top-level performances with artistically and technically complex productions. The Consell de Mallorca remains committed to an ambitious and accessible cultural programme that brings great works of the international repertoire closer to the public and solidifies the Principal as a major cultural reference in the Balearic Islands."
The production has also received positive reviews, with critics noting its brilliance and the successful revival of Faust in its original version. Fernando Merino from El cuaderno de Pedropan described it as a "brilliant return of Faust in a spectacular original version," while Andrea Merli from I teatri dell’Est highlighted the theatre's role in promoting attractive performances despite limited resources compared to larger venues.
The upcoming titles for the 41st Opera Season include Orlando furioso in February 2027, Pierrot Lunaire in April 2027, Madama Butterfly in June 2027, and the zarzuela La tabernera del puerto in January 2027.
Faust is a co-production by the Opéra de Lille, Opéra-Comique in Paris, and the Palazzetto Bru Zane – Centre de musique romantique française in Venice. It premiered in Paris just over a year ago, featuring the original version presented at the Théâtre Lyrique on 19 March 1859, which included spoken passages and previously unpublished arias.
The opera is one of the most celebrated works in the French lyrical repertoire, solidifying Gounod's international reputation. More than 120 artists and professionals contributed to this technically and musically complex production, which featured a poetic conception of space and light. Denis Podalydès directed the staging, while Alejandro Cantalapiedra conducted the orchestra. Laurent Delvert was responsible for the revival direction.
The cast included prominent national and international soloists such as Nicolas Cavallier (Méphistophélès), Sunnyboy Dladla (Faust), Veronica Granatiero (Marguerite), and Begoña Gómez (Siebel), among others. The costumes were designed by the renowned Christian Lacroix, with Éric Ruf responsible for the set design and Bertrand Couderc for the lighting, which presented notable technical complexity. The Teatre Principal Choir and the Orquesta Sinfónica de las Islas Baleares completed the artistic team for this opera.
