A forlorn, aged philosopher sets out on a perilous course when he makes a deal with the Devil in this monumental treatment of the Faust tale—an enticingly impressive production from San Francisco Opera. Boito’s resplendent retelling of Goethe’s Faust, a monumental work of "choral grandeur and melodic richness" (The New York Times) in one of the most impressive productions ever seen at the War Memorial Opera House. The cast includes Ramón Vargas, a tenor "in ravishing voice" (Financial Times), as the philosopher who sells his soul to the Devil; the "luminous, compelling" Patricia Racette (Washington Post) as the woman he desires; and, in the vividly menacing title role, the "seductively malevolent" bass-baritone Ildar Abdrazakov, a "fullbodied bass-baritone" renowned for his "wonderfully evil portrayals" (The New York Times). Italian maestro will be on the podium, showing once again why "we are blessed to have Nicola Luisotti in San Francisco" (San Francisco Classical Voice).