Michel Carré

A melancholy poet reflects on three women he loved and lost in the past: a mechanical performing doll, a Venetian courtesan, and the consumptive daughter of a celebrated composer.

1995 recorded performance of Charles Gounod's Faust at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, with conductor John Nelson.

The famous love affair between Mireille, a rich Provencal heiress and Vincent, a poor basket maker, thwarted by the jealousy of Ourias, a herdsman himself in love with Mireille.

The film depicts the main events in the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. She married Francis II, King of France. After her husband's death in 1560, Mary Stuart left France and returned to her native Scotland. Her father having died around the same time, she became Queen. She was about 19 years old, and her youth, great beauty, and charming manner won the hearts of the Scots. She was a devout Catholic, and when she ascended the throne, she found the country in the hands of Protestants, who caused much unrest. They revolted and imprisoned the young Queen. She escaped and sought help from Queen Elizabeth, but Elizabeth betrayed her and imprisoned her again. With the help of a page, she escaped through a window, but Elizabeth had her recaptured by her soldiers after a fierce struggle. She was therefore returned to prison once again and sentenced to death after a sham trial. It was with her gentle smile that Marie laid her head on the block.

Gounod's Faust at the Bavarian State Opera: Jonathan Tetelman plays Faust, the scholar who makes a pact with Mephistopheles (Kyle Ketelsen) before seducing Marguerite (Olga Kulchynska). The unfortunate woman descends into madness but ultimately achieves redemption. Lotte de Beer directs this production, which marks Nathalie Stutzmann's debut in Munich as conductor.

In 2009, Frédéric Mistral’s tale of love and loss in Provence came to the Opéra de Paris with a new production of Gounod’s 1864 opera Mireille. Nicolas Joel’s naturalistic staging frames the accomplished performances of Albanian soprano Inva Mula as Mireille and American tenor Charles Castronovo as her ardent country lover Vincent.

David McVicar's spectacular production of Charles Gounod’s Faust, featuring a divine cast of opera’s superstars: Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Bryn Terfel, Simon Keenlyside and Sophie Koch – recorded at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 19 June 2004.