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**Berkshire Opera Festival presents: Faust at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center**

Join us for an unforgettable evening of opera as the Berkshire Opera Festival brings to life Gounod's masterpiece, "Faust," at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. This captivating performance is scheduled for Friday, August 30, from 7:30 pm to 10:15 pm, promising an epic tale of tragedy, redemption, and the consequences of a Faustian bargain.

**Event Highlights:**

- **Date and Time:** Friday, August 30, 7:30 pm - 10:15 pm
- **Location:** Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
- **Tickets:** Start at $20. Early-bird pricing ends April 3. Special $15 tickets are available for ages 30 and under. BOF/Mahaiwe Member Sale begins Wednesday, February 14 at noon, with the Public Sale starting Wednesday, February 21 at noon.
- **Special Offer:** On Saturday, August 24, enjoy a free pre-performance talk with dramaturg Cori Ellison at 12pm, offering insights into Gounod’s greatest work.

**About the Opera:**
"Faust" tells the story of old Dr. Faust who, in his quest for youth, makes a pact with the devil, leading to unforeseen and devastating consequences. This opera is celebrated for its rich, romantic score and has remained a beloved piece in the world of opera since its premiere. The performance will be sung in French with projected English translations, ensuring an accessible and immersive experience for all attendees.

**Featuring:**
- **Cast:** Duke Kim as Faust, Raquel González as Marguerite, Justin Hopkins as Méphistophélès, and more.
- **Creative Team:** Conductor Brian Garman and Stage Director Jonathon Loy lead an exceptional team to bring this production to life.

**Additional Information:**
The opera runs for approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one intermission. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the Berkshire Opera Festival website or call the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Box Office.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience one of the pinnacles of French romantic opera in the beautiful setting of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.

EPSG:4326

Berkshire Opera Festival Presents: Faust

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

### Faust at the Berkshire Opera Festival

**Event:** Faust - Mainstage Production  
**Composer:** Charles Gounod  
**Location:** Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA  
**Dates and Times:**  
- Saturday, August 24, 1:00 PM (Pre-performance talk at 12:00 PM)  
- Tuesday, August 27, 7:30 PM  
- Friday, August 30, 7:30 PM  
**Duration:** 2 hours, 45 minutes (including one intermission)  
**Language:** Sung in French with projected English translations  

**Synopsis:**  
Experience the timeless tale of tragedy and redemption in Charles Gounod's operatic masterpiece, "Faust." The story follows the aged Dr. Faust, who sells his soul to the devil, Méphistophélès, in exchange for youth and the chance to win the love of the beautiful Marguerite. This decision leads to devastating consequences, exploring themes of desire, regret, and salvation.

**Cast:**
- **Faust:** Duke Kim, praised for his "liquid gold" tenor voice.
- **Marguerite:** Raquel González, a winner of the Sphinx Organization's Medal of Excellence Award.
- **Méphistophélès:** Justin Hopkins, noted for his commanding presence and beautifully focused bass-baritone.
- **Valentin:** Jarrett Porter, recognized for his supple and vibrant baritone.
- **Siébel:** Sun-Ly Pierce, known for her lush and flexible mezzo-soprano.
- **Marthe Schwerlein:** Abbegael Greene, a master's degree holder in voice performance from Bard College Conservatory.
- **Wagner:** Kyle Dunn, a master's degree holder in vocal performance from The Peabody Institute in Baltimore.

**Creative Team:**
- **Conductor:** Brian Garman
- **Stage Director:** Jonathon Loy
- **Scenic Designer:** Stephen Dobay
- **Costume Designer:** Brooke Stanton
- **Lighting Designer:** Alex Jainchill
- **Hair and Make-up Designer:** Beckie Kravetz
- **Choreographer:** Andrea Beasom
- **Assistant Conductor and Chorus Master:** Geoffrey Larson
- **Principal Coach and Rehearsal Pianist:** Travis Bloom
- **Supertitles Author:** Cori Ellison
- **Production Stage Manager:** Cindy Knight

**Ticketing Information:**
- Tickets start at $20.
- Early-bird pricing available until April 3.
- Special discounts for attendees under 30 (contact the Mahaiwe box office for details).
- Note: All ticket sales and customer services are managed exclusively by the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center box office. Beware of fraudulent third-party websites.

**Additional Information:**
- A free pre-performance talk with dramaturg Cori Ellison will be held on Saturday, August 24, at 12:00 PM (doors open at 11:45 AM for all ticket holders).

Join us for an unforgettable performance of "Faust," a cornerstone of French romantic opera, filled with surging, memorable music that has captivated audiences since its premiere.

Faust

### Gala Berkshire Opera Festival: A Faustian Fête

#### Event Overview
Join the Berkshire Opera Festival (BOF) for an enchanting evening of music, dining, and celebration at the "A Faustian Fête" Season Celebration and Fundraiser. This event will take place on Sunday, June 30, from 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Lenox Club, located at 111 Yukon Ave, Lenox, MA.

#### Schedule of Events
- **4:00 PM**: Cocktail Hour and Silent Auction
- **5:00 PM**: Dinner, Performances, and Live Auction

#### Highlights
Guests will indulge in a heavenly meal paired with devilishly divine drinks. The evening will feature both silent and live auctions, along with performances by Maestro Brian Garman and special guest artist Raquel González. Proceeds from the event will support BOF's 2024 mainstage production of Gounod's *Faust*.

#### Special Guest Artist
Soprano Raquel González, acclaimed by Opera News as a true artist, will grace the event. Ms. González is set to play the leading role of Marguerite in *Faust* this summer. She is a recipient of the prestigious Sphinx Organization’s Medal of Excellence Award and has recently performed with Houston Grand Opera, Austin Opera, and The Metropolitan Opera.

#### Attire
The dress code for the evening is "Berkshire Chic"—festive but not overly formal.

#### Ticketing Information
- **Single Ticket**: $250 (Tax-Deductible portion: $155)
- **Standard Table**: $2,000 for 8 guests (Tax-Deductible portion: $1,240)
- **Premium Table**: $3,000 for 8 guests (Tax-Deductible portion: $2,240) - SOLD OUT
  - Benefits include a meet-and-greet/photo opportunity with the guest artist, reserved parking, and recognition on event materials and signage for the table host.

#### Sponsorship Options
- **Cocktail Hour**: $500 (Tax-Deductible portion: $500)
  - Benefits: Recognition on event signage and in the 2024 Festival Program
- **Silver**: $2,500 (Tax-Deductible portion: $2,215)
  - Benefits: Recognition on event signage, webpage, and communications; 1/4-page ad in the 2024 Season Program
- **Gold**: $5,000 (Tax-Deductible portion: $4,260)
  - Benefits: Two tickets to the gala; name/company logo on event signage, webpage, and communications; 1/2-page ad in the 2024 Season Program
- **Platinum**: $10,000 (Tax-Deductible portion: $8,620)
  - Benefits: Four tickets to the gala; name/company logo on event signage, webpage, and communications; full-page ad in the 2024 Season Program

#### Host Committee
The event is supported by a dedicated Host Committee, including Ilene and Lester Bliwise, William Briggs and Donald Usher, Terry Cerezola, and many others.

#### Additional Information
Please reserve your tickets by June 18. For more details or to make a donation, contact events@BerkshireOperaFestival.org or call 413-213-6554.

Celebrate the arts and support the Berkshire Opera Festival at this unforgettable gala evening!

A Faustian Fête

Lenox Club

Experience the poignant tragedy and mesmerizing beauty of Giacomo Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" as it returns to the Austin Opera in April 2025. This heart-wrenching opera tells the story of the young geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly, who is seduced and abandoned by the dashing U.S. Navy Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton. Set against the backdrop of early 20th century Japan, the opera explores themes of love, betrayal, and cultural clash.

The production features a talented cast including soprano Raquel González as Cio-Cio-San, tenor Joseph Dennis as Pinkerton, and mezzo-soprano Kristen Choi as Suzuki, Butterfly’s loyal friend. Conducted by Timothy Myers and directed by E. Loren Meeker, this collaboration between Austin Opera and Opera San Antonio promises a stunning and traditional rendition of the classic opera.

Performances are scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. This groundbreaking partnership highlights the artistic resources of both companies, beginning in San Antonio on April 17, 2024, before moving to Austin.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness one of opera's most heartbreaking stories brought to life on stage. Subscribe today, and mark your calendars for the sale of single tickets on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Join us for a performance that promises to be a highlight of the 2024-2025 season at the Austin Opera.

Raquel González

Soprano

Events

Upcoming events

25 - 27 Apr, 2025

Madame Butterfly · Austin Opera

Past events

24 - 30 Aug, 2024

Berkshire Opera Festival Presents: Faust · Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

24 - 30 Aug, 2024

Faust · Berkshire Opera Festival

Future and recently performed repertoire

Marguerite in Faust by Gounod

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Cio-Cio-San in Madame Butterfly by Puccini

Austin Opera

Marguerite in Faust by Gounod

Berkshire Opera Festival

About

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