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Mefistofele
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Mefistofele

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Mefistofele () is an Italian opera in a prologue and five acts, later reduced to four acts and an epilogue, the only completed opera with music by the Italian composer-librettist Arrigo Boito (there are several completed operas for which he was librettist only). It is an adaptation of the German legend of Faust. The opera was given its premiere on 5 March 1868 at La Scala, Milan, under the baton of the composer, despite his lack of experience and skill as a conductor.

Key facts

Opera.name
Mefistofele
Opera.composer
Arrigo Boito
Opera.image
Prologo in cielo, bozzetto di Carlo Ferrario per Mefistofele (1881) - Archivio Storico Ricordi ICON004306.jpg
Opera.caption
Set design for the Prologue in Heaven, by Carlo Ferrario, 1881
Opera.librettist
Boito
Opera.language
Italian
Opera.based_on
Faust legend

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image
Mefistofele Demon 2.jpg
Show 5 more facts
date of first performance
1868-03-05
Commons category
Mefistofele (Boito)
publication date
1850-00-00
title
Mefistofele
number of parts of this work
4
Sources (2)

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Article

17 sections
Contents
  • Composition history
  • Performance history and revisions
  • 19th century
  • 20th century and beyond
  • Roles
  • Synopsis
  • Prologue
  • Act 1
  • Act 2
  • Act 3
  • Act 4
  • Epilogue
  • Recordings
  • In popular culture
  • References
  • Further reading
  • External links

Mefistofele () is an Italian opera in a prologue and five acts, later reduced to four acts and an epilogue, the only completed opera with music by the Italian composer-librettist Arrigo Boito (there are several completed operas for which he was librettist only). It is an adaptation of the German legend of Faust. The opera was given its premiere on 5 March 1868 at La Scala, Milan, under the baton of the composer, despite his lack of experience and skill as a conductor.

However, it was not a success and was immediately withdrawn after only two performances both of which were hissed at by the audiences. Revisions in 1875 resulted in success in Bologna and, with further adjustments in 1876 for Venice, the opera was performed elsewhere.

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