Charles Gounod's 1859 opera Faust garnered him international renown, widely noted for its emphasis on musical motifs rather than theatrics to convey character. George Balanchine's Walpurgisnacht Ballet, choreographed for a 1975 production of the opera, similarly favors a pure-dance interpretation of the story's "witch night." See it just as it premiered at the Paris Opera on our Classic NYCB I program this coming winter: nycballet.com/classicnycb1winter | New York City Ballet

🎬 Faust (2011), directed by Aleksandr Sokurov, is a visually striking adaptation of the classic German legend. The film reimagines the story of Faust, a scholar driven by insatiable curiosity and ambition, who makes a pact with the devil, Mephistopheles, in exchange for knowledge and power. Set in a grim and surreal world, Sokurov’s version explores themes of greed, corruption, and existential despair, offering a haunting portrayal of humanity's darker impulses. The film, known for its dreamlik