Le Petit Faust: opera buffa by Hervé at the Athénée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet

Discover Le Petit Faust, an opera buffa by Hervé, presented by the Palazzetto Bru Zane at the Athénée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet from December 13 to 20, 2025.

From December 13 to 20, 2025,the Athénée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet will host Le Petit Faust, an opera buffaby Hervé with a librettoby Hector Crémieux and Adolphe Jaime. First performed in 1869 at the Folies-Dramatiques, this work is one of the most inventive scores of late^19th-century French musical theater . The Palazzetto Bru Zane – Centre de musique romantique française is staging a new production of this rare work, showcasing the dynamism and fantasy characteristic of opera buffa.

The work features Faust, an old scholar devoted to the transmission of knowledge, who is unwittingly drawn into a treasure hunt by Mephisto. The set design by Sol Espeche transposes this fable into a world inspired by the television game shows of the 1980s and 1990s. This reinterpretation highlights the playful dimension of the libretto, while renewing the visual codes of the work. Hervé's comic touches, musical virtuosity, and satirical spirit find a stage setting that showcases the liveliness of the story.

Sammy El Ghadab is the musical director, leading the Les Frivolités Parisiennes orchestra, a group renowned for its work in reviving the French opera repertoire. The performance is based on a precise and dynamic interpretation of the score, which alternates between ensembles, couplets, and parodic passages in the grand tradition of opera buffa. The orchestra, well versed in this repertoire, provides light-hearted accompaniment to the burlesque situations imagined by Hervé and the contrasts between the characters.

This production is part of the Palazzetto Bru Zane's 2025–2026 season, which continues its work of rediscovering the French Romantic musical heritage. By bringing Le Petit Faust back into the spotlight, the production offers an opportunity to revisit a work that is emblematic of the inventiveness and lighthearted charm that characterize opera buffa. This lyrical event allows us to reconnect with an essential part of^19th-century musical theater that is rarely performed on contemporary stages.

Le Petit Faust can be seen at the Athénée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet from December 13 to 20, 2025.

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