Gounod: Faust

With its mythic story and indelible melodies, Gounod's Faust is one of the enduring hits of European opera: a red-blooded tale of love, sin and redemption in which the Devil really does have all the best tunes. David McVicar's opulent staging moves the action to 19th-century Paris, revelling in Gounod's theatricality while giving the cast generous scope to explore their characters. And with a Faust as charismatic as Michael Fabiano, and Méphistophélès with the vocal lustre of Erwin Schrott – plus a daring new staging of the famous ballet – this 2019 performance is a spine-tingling experience in its own right.