Premiered in Paris in 1859, Gounod's Faust was an instant success and even today remains one of the most popular of all French operas. Its libretto was based on Michel Carres adaptation of his own stage play Faust et Marguerite, which in turn was loosely fashioned after Goethes two-part tragedy. The staging was entrusted to a visionary director, Stefano Poda (La Stampa). A triumph that will long remain in the annals as one of the most brilliant stagings not only in this theatre but in any of todays opera houses An extraordinary spectacle (ResMusica).