Editing Mefistofele

{{Short description|Opera by Arrigo Boito}}
{{for|the demon|Mephistopheles}}
{{Infobox opera 
| name              = Mefistofele
| composer          = [[Arrigo Boito]]
| image             = Prologo in cielo, bozzetto di Carlo Ferrario per Mefistofele (1881) - Archivio Storico Ricordi ICON004306.jpg
| caption           = Set design for the Prologue in Heaven,<br /> by [[Carlo Ferrario (painter)|Carlo Ferrario]], 1881
| librettist        = Boito
| language          = Italian
| based_on          = [[Faust]] legend
| premiere_date     = {{Start date|1868|03|05|df=y}}
| premiere_location = {{Nowrap|[[La Scala|Teatro alla Scala]], Milan}}
}}
'''''Mefistofele''''' ({{IPA|it|mefiˈstɔːfele}}) is an [[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). 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However, it was not a success and was immediately withdrawn after only two performances both of which were hissed at by the audiences.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.

==Composition history==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2020}}
Boito began consideration of an opera on the [[Faust]]ian theme after completing his studies at the [[Milan Conservatory]] in 1861. ''Mefistofele'' is one of many pieces of [[classical music]] based on the Faust legend and, like many other composers, Boito used [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe|Goethe]]'s [[Faust, Part One|version]] as his starting point. He was an admirer of [[Richard Wagner]] and, like him, chose to write his own [[libretto]], something which was virtually unheard of in [[Italian opera]] up to that time. Much of the text is actually a literal translation from Goethe's German to Boito's Italian.

The most popular earlier opera based on the legend was Gounod's ''[[Faust (opera)|Faust]]'', which Boito regarded as a superficial and frivolous treatment of a profound subject. Furthermore, Boito was contemptuous of what he saw as the low operatic standards prevailing in Italy at that time, and he determined to make his new work distinctive, both musically and intellectually, different from anything that had been heard before. He hoped that it would be a wake-up call and an inspiration to other young Italian composers.

The [[piano–vocal score]] was completed in 1867 while Boito was visiting relatives in Poland.

==Performance history and revisions==

===19th century===

As the evening of 5 March 1868 premiere performance progressed, the hostility of the audience, unfamiliar with Boito's [[avant-garde]] musical style and unimpressed by many of the scenes (notably the scene in the emperor's court), steadily increased. Furthermore, the work was far too long and the cast inadequate for the complexities of the music. When the curtain finally came down well after midnight, it was clear that the premiere had been a failure. After just two performances, with the second one being divided into two sections and presented on successive evenings, the opera was withdrawn.

Boito immediately set to work revising his opera, greatly reduced its length by about one-third by making many scenes smaller in scale. The most important changes were the following: Boito removed the entire first scene of the original act 4 (scene in the imperial court), symphonic intermezzo "La Battaglia" and expanded act 5 as an epilogue, adding the duet "Lontano, lontano" to act 3 in the process. Faust was changed from a [[baritone]] to a [[tenor]].

The revised version was premiered in [[Teatro Comunale di Bologna|Bologna]] on 4 October 1875, this time sung by what is generally regarded to be a very fine cast, and was an immediate success. This change in reception is thought to be partly due to Boito's revisions making the opera more traditional in style, and also to the Italian audience having become familiar with, and more willing to accept, developments in opera associated with those of [[Richard Wagner]].

Boito made further minor revisions during 1876, and this version was first performed at the [[Teatro Rossini (Venice)|Teatro Rossini]] in Venice on 13 May 1876. The first British performance took place at [[Her Majesty's Theatre]], London on 6 July 1880 and the American premiere was on 16 November 1880 in Boston.<ref>[[Stanley Sadie|Sadie, Stanley]] (1997), p. 415</ref><ref name="grove"/> Thereafter, Boito continued to make small changes until the final definitive production in Milan on 25 May 1881.

===20th century and beyond===

In the early 20th century, revivals of the opera were associated particularly with the famous Russian [[bass (voice type)|bass]] [[Feodor Chaliapin]]: he sang the title role on the occasion of his first appearance outside Russia (La Scala, Milan, 16 March 1901) and also on his North American debut ([[Metropolitan Opera]], New York, 20 November 1907).<ref name="grove">{{harvnb|Ashbrook|1998|pp=303–305}}</ref> Chaliapin made his first appearance at the [[Royal Opera House]], Covent Garden, on 25 May 1926. Parts of a subsequent performance on 31 May were recorded by His Master's Voice.{{sfn|Borovsky|1988|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}}

In 1969, the [[New York City Opera]] presented a new production by [[Tito Capobianco]], with [[Norman Treigle]] scoring his greatest success in the title role.

The Metropolitan Opera has given the work from time to time since it first appeared there on 5 December 1883.<ref>{{cite web |title=Metropolitan Opera Association |url=http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/frame.htm |website=archives.metoperafamily.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Salazar |first1=David |title=Metropolitan Opera 2018–19 Review: ''Mefistofele'' |url=http://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-2018-19-review-mefistofele/ |website=operawire.com |access-date=9 November 2018 |date=9 November 2018}}</ref>[[The Royal Opera]] in London has only given one performance of the opera, a concert version in March 1998 at the [[Barbican Centre]], with [[Samuel Ramey]] as the title character.<ref>[http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/performance.aspx?performance=7824&row=0 Royal Opera House online database]</ref>

As ''Mefistofele'', Ramey made the role a signature one, appearing in many productions in the 1980s and early 1990s, including one given by the [[San Francisco Opera]] in 1989<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Arrigo Boito : Mefistofele - Legendary Performances Blu-rays - Arthaus Musik |url=https://arthaus-musik.com/en/blu-ray/music/legendaryperformances/media/details/Mefistofele.html |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=arthaus-musik.com}}</ref> and another in November 1994.<ref>[http://archive.sfopera.com/reports/rptOpera-id328.pdf San Francisco Opera performance database on archive.sfopera.com]</ref> San Francisco Opera revived the 1994 production of the opera as the first production of its 2013/14 season with [[Ildar Abdrazakov]] as ''Mefistofele'', [[Patricia Racette]] as Margherita and [[Ramón Vargas]] as Faust.<ref>[http://sfopera.com/Season-Tickets/2013-14-Season/Mephistopheles.aspx Information on the opera] from the San Francisco Opera website</ref>

The opera was performed as part of the 2013/14 season at the [[Croatian National Theatre in Split|Croatian National Theatre (HNK Split)]], directed by Michał Znaniecki and conducted by Nikša Bareza.<ref>[http://radio.hrt.hr/radio-split/clanak/premijera-opere-mefistofele-u-hnk-split/46440/ Information on the production] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001075049/http://radio.hrt.hr/radio-split/clanak/premijera-opere-mefistofele-u-hnk-split/46440/ |date=2015-10-01 }} (in Croatian)</ref>

In August 2014, the opera was performed at the 13th Opera Festival of the [[Theatro da Paz]] in [[Belém]], Brazil, after a 50-year hiatus from Brazilian theaters. There ''Mefistofele'' was played by Denis Sedov and Faust played by Fernando Portari.<ref>[http://g1.globo.com/pa/para/noticia/2014/08/festival-de-opera-estreia-nesta-terca-com-montagem-de-mefistofele.html News announcement from G1] (in Portuguese)</ref>

Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the [[Dutch National Opera]]'s performance of ''Mefistofele'' in 2020 could not go ahead as planned, so an alternative production of the work titled ''Faust [Working Title]'' was performed. The concept of this production was created by director Lisenka Heijboer Castañon and conductor Manoj Kamps, in which they invited composers and arrangers to respond to Boito's original work. This included a new arrangement of Boito's famous prison aria ‘L’altra notte in fondo al mare’ from ''Mefistofele'' arranged by the British composer [[Grace-Evangeline Mason]] for the Moldovan soprano [[Olga Busuioc]] who was an original cast member for the production.<ref>[https://www.operaballet.nl/en/dutch-national-opera/2020-2021/faust-working-title Dutch National Opera]</ref>

==Roles==
{| class="wikitable"
|+{{sronly|Roles, voice types, premiere casts}}
!rowspan=2|Role<ref>According to the original librettos.</ref>
!colspan=2|First version
!colspan=2|Revised Bologna version
|-
![[Voice type]]
!Cast, 5 March 1868<ref>{{Almanacco|dmy=05-03-1868|match=Mefistofele|label=''Mefistofele'', 5 March 1868}}</ref><br>Conductor: Arrigo Boito
!Voice type
!Cast, 4 October 1875<ref>{{Almanacco|dmy=04-10-1875|match=Mefistofele|label=''Mefistofele'', 4 October 1875}}</ref><br>Conductor: [[Emilio Usiglio]]
|-
|Mefistofele || [[bass (voice type)|bass]] || François-Marcel (Marcello) Junca || bass || Romano Nannetti
|-
|Faust, ''a scholar'' || [[baritone]] || Gerolamo Spallazzi || [[tenor]] || [[Italo Campanini]]
|-
|Margherita, ''a simple girl'' || soprano || Mélanie-Charlotte Reboux || soprano || [[Erminia Borghi-Mamo]]
|-
|Elena ([[Helen of Troy]]) || [[soprano]] || Mélanie-Charlotte Reboux || soprano || Erminia Borghi-Mamo
|-
|Wagner, ''Faust's pupil'' || tenor || || tenor ||Carlo Casarini
|-
|Nereo, ''a Greek elder'' || || (no role)<ref>Casaglia erroneously claims the role of Nereo was also performed at the 1868 premiere, crediting it to an undeclared tenor.</ref> || tenor || Carlo Casarini
|-
|Marta, ''Margherita's neighbour'' || [[contralto]] || Giuseppina Flory || contralto || Antonietta Mazzucco (De-Fassi?)<ref name="De-Fassi">Sources generally credit contralto Antonietta Mazzucco as the creator of the roles of Marta and Pantalis, whereas the original libretto reports the name of a "Signora De-Fassi", about whom further information is lacking.</ref>
|-
|Pantalis, ''Helen's companion'' || || (no role)<ref>Casaglia erroneously claims the role of Pantalis was also played at the 1868 premiere, crediting it to Giuseppina Flory.</ref> || contralto || Antonietta Mazzucco (De-Fassi?)<ref name="De-Fassi" />
|-
|''The Astrologer'' || bass || Luigi Alessandrini || || (no role)
|-
|colspan="5" | Additional characters from the first version: ''The Herald; The Beggar; The Emperor; Lilith; Paris; A Boy; A Goblin''
|-
|colspan="5" style=max-width:60em | Chorus (second version): ''heavenly host, Chorus Mysticus, cherubim, penitents, strollers, crossbowmen, hunters, students, villagers, women of the people, middle class people, witches, warlocks, Greek chorus women,<ref>Boito writes "Coretidi", after Goethe.</ref> Sirens, Nereids,<ref>Boito writes "Doridi", after Goethe.</ref> Greek coryphaei, warriors''
|}

==Synopsis==

===Prologue===
A heavenly chorus of angels praises God the Creator. Mefistofele scornfully declares that he can win the soul of Faust. His challenge is accepted by the Forces of Good.

===Act 1===
''Scene 1, Easter Sunday''

[[File:Gate and ramparts, scene of opera Mefistofele.jpg|thumb|Gate and ramparts of Frankfurt am Main, sketch for act 1, scene 1 (Ferrario)]]

The aged Dr. Faust and his pupil Wagner are watching the [[Easter]] celebrations in the main square in [[Frankfurt]]. Faust senses that they are being followed by a mysterious friar, about whom he senses something evil. Wagner dismisses his master’s feelings of unease and as darkness falls they return to Faust’s home.

''Scene 2, The Pact''

[[File:Laboratorio di Faust.jpg|thumb|Set design for act 1, scene 2 (Ferario)]]

Faust is in his study, deep in contemplation. His thoughts are disturbed in dramatic fashion by the sudden appearance of the sinister friar, whom he now recognizes as a manifestation of the Devil (Mefistofele). Far from being terrified, Faust is intrigued and enters into a discussion with Mefistofele culminating in an agreement by which he will give his soul to the devil on his death in return for worldly bliss for the remainder of his life.

===Act 2===
''Scene 1, The Garden''

[[File:Giardino di Marta.jpg|thumb|Marta's garden for act 2, scene&nbsp;1 (Ferrario)]]

Restored to his youth, Faust has infatuated Margareta, an unsophisticated village girl. She is unable to resist his seductive charms and agrees to drug her mother with a sleeping draught and meet him for a night of passion. Meanwhile, Mefistofele amuses himself with Martha, another of the village girls.

''Scene 2, The Witches Sabbath''

[[File:Mefistofele Witches Sabbath Scene.jpg|thumb|Witches Sabbath (by [[Wilhelm Gause]], performed at the [[Vienna Court Opera]], March 18, 1882)]]

Mefistofele has carried Faust away to witness a [[Witches' Sabbath]] on the [[Brocken]] mountain. They reach to the top and hear the sound of witches approaching from below. They draw near and Mefistofele, declaring himself king, calls to them to bow down before him. The devil mounts his throne and proclaims his contempt for the World and all its worthless inhabitants. As the orgy reaches its climax, Faust sees a vision of Margherita, apparently in chains and with her throat cut. Mefistofele reassures him that the vision was a false illusion. The revels continue.

===Act 3===
Faust's vision had been true. Margareta lies in a dismal cell, her mind in a state of confusion and despair. She has been imprisoned and condemned to death for poisoning her mother with the sleeping [[wikt:draught|draught]] supplied by Faust and for drowning the baby she had borne him. Faust begs Mefistofele to help them escape together. They enter the cell and at first Margareta does not recognize her rescuers. Her joy at being reunited with Faust turns to horror when she sees Mefistofele and recognizes that he is the devil. Refusing to succumb to further evil, Margareta begs for divine forgiveness. She collapses to the cell floor as the Celestial choir proclaims her redemption.

===Act 4===
[[File:Il fiume Penéjos.jpg|thumb|Set design for act 4 (Ferrario)]]

Mefistofele has now transported Faust back in time to [[Ancient Greece]]. [[Helen of Troy]] and her followers are enjoying the luxurious and exotic surroundings on the banks of a magnificent river. Faust, attired more splendidly than ever, is easily able to win the heart of the beautiful princess. In a passionate outpouring they declare their undying love and devotion to each other.

===Epilogue===
Back in his study, Faust, once more an old man, reflects that neither in the world of reality nor of illusion was he able to find the perfect experience he craved. He feels that the end of his life is close, but desperate for his final victory, Mefistofele urges him to embark on more exotic adventures. For a moment Faust hesitates, but suddenly seizing his Bible he cries out for God's forgiveness. Mefistofele has been thwarted; he disappears into the background as Faust dies and the Celestial choir once more sings of ultimate redemption.

==Recordings==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Cast: Mefistofele,<br>Faust,<br>Margherita
!Conductor<br>Opera house and orchestra
!Label<ref>[http://www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk/CLBOMEFI.HTM Source of recordings information of ''Mefistofele'' on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk]</ref>
|-
|1931
|[[Nazzareno De Angelis]],<br>{{ill|Antonio Melandri|it}},<br>[[Mafalda Favero]]
|[[Lorenzo Molajoli]]<br>Orchestra and Chorus of [[La Scala]], Milan
|[[Naxos Records|Naxos]] Historical (originally Italian Columbia)<br>Cat: 8.110273-74<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.110273-74
| title = Boito – ''Mefistofele''
| publisher = Naxos Records
| access-date = 4 September 2010}}</ref>
|-
|1952
|[[Giulio Neri]],<br>[[Gianni Poggi]],<br>{{ill|Rosetta Noli|it}}
|[[Franco Capuana]]<br>Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan
|CD: Cantus Classics<br>Cat: 500 330
|-
|1954
|[[Giulio Neri]],<br>[[Ferruccio Tagliavini]],<br>[[Marcella Pobbe]]
|{{ill|Angelo Questa|ca}}<br>Coro del Teatro Regio di Torino, Orchestra Sinfonica RAI Torino
|CD: Warner Fonit<br>Cat: 0927 40350-2
|-
|1956
|[[Boris Christoff]],<br>[[Giacinto Prandelli]],<br>Orietta Moscucci
|[[Vittorio Gui]]<br>Rome Opera House Orchestra and Chorus
|CD: EMI Classics<br>Cat: 65655
|-
|1958
|[[Cesare Siepi]],<br>[[Mario Del Monaco]],<br>[[Renata Tebaldi]]
|[[Tullio Serafin]]<br>Orchestra e Coro dell' Accademia Santa Cecilia, Roma
|CD: [[Decca Records|Decca]]<br>Cat: 000289 440 0542 4<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.deccaclassics.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4400542
| title = Boito – ''Mefistofele''
| publisher = The Decca Record Company London
| access-date = 4 September 2010}}</ref>
|-
|1973
|[[Norman Treigle]],<br>[[Plácido Domingo]],<br>[[Montserrat Caballé]]
|[[Julius Rudel]]<br>[[Ambrosian Opera Chorus]] and [[London Symphony Orchestra]]
|CD: [[EMI|EMI Classics]]<br>Cat: 07243 566501 2 1<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.emiclassics.com/releasedetails.php?rid=22738
| title = Boito – ''Mefistofele''
| publisher = EMI Classics
| access-date = 4 September 2010}}</ref>
|-
|1982
|[[Nicolai Ghiaurov]],<br>[[Luciano Pavarotti]],<br>[[Mirella Freni]]
|[[Oliviero De Fabritiis]] <br>London Opera Chorus and [[National Philharmonic Orchestra]]
|CD: [[Decca Records|Decca]]<br>Cat: 000289 475 6666 3<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.deccaclassics.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4756666
| title = Boito – ''Mefistofele''
| publisher = The Decca Record Company London
| access-date = 4 September 2010}}</ref>
|-
|1985
|[[Nicola Ghiuselev]],<br>Kaludi Kaludov,<br>[[Stefka Evstatieva]]
|Ivan Marinov<br>Sofia National Opera Chorus and Orchestra
|CD: Capriccio<br>Cat:C51186
|-
|1988
|[[Samuel Ramey]],<br>[[Plácido Domingo]],<br>[[Éva Marton]]
|[[Giuseppe Patanè]] <br>[[Hungarian State Orchestra]] and [[Hungarian Opera]] Chorus
|CD: [[Sony Classical|Sony]]<br>Cat: B0000026QH<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.amazon.com/Boito-Mefistofele-Marton-Domingo-Tedesco/dp/B0000026QH
| title = Boito – ''Mefistofele''
| year = 1991
| publisher = Sony Classical
| access-date = 30 January 2012}}</ref>
|-
|1989
|[[Samuel Ramey]],<br>[[Dennis O'Neill (tenor)|Dennis O'Neill]],<br>[[Gabriela Beňačková]]
|Maurizio Arena (conductor) 
[[San Francisco Opera]],
Robert Carsen (director)
|[[Blu-ray|Blu-Ray]], [[DVD]]
[[Arthaus (video label)|Arthaus]]<ref name=":0" />
|-
|1996
|[[Samuel Ramey]],<br>[[Vincenzo La Scola]],<br>[[Michèle Crider]]
|[[Riccardo Muti]]<br>Orchestra and chorus of [[La Scala]]
|CD: [[RCA Red Seal]]<br>Cat: 8985334942
|-
|2004
|[[Mark S. Doss]],<br>Alberto Cupido,<br>Annalisa Raspagliosi
|[[Paolo Carignani]] <br> Orchestra and chorus [[Oper Frankfurt]]
|CD: [[Hessischer Rundfunk|HR]] Musik<br>Cat: B000HT1WQ0 <ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boito-Mefistofele-Chor-Oper-Frankfurt/dp/B000HT1WQ0
| title = Boito: ''Mefistofele''
| publisher = HR Musik
| access-date = 12 October 2011}}</ref> 
|-
|2008
|[[Ferruccio Furlanetto]],<br>[[Giuseppe Filianoti]],<br>{{ill|Dimitra Theodossiou|it}}
|Stefano Ranzani <br> Orchestra and chorus, [[Teatro Massimo]], Palermo
|DVD:[[Dynamic (record label)]]<br>Cat: 33581
|-
|2014
|[[Ildar Abdrazakov]],<br>[[Ramón Vargas]],<br>[[Patricia Racette]]
|[[Nicola Luisotti]] <br>[[San Francisco Opera]] Orchestra and Chorus
|2 DVDs: EuroArts<br>Cat: 2059678 <ref>{{cite web
| url = https://shop.sfopera.com/collections/san-francisco-opera-dvds-and-blu-rays
| title = Boito: ''Mefistofele''
| publisher = EuroArts Music International
| access-date = 3 August 2018}}</ref>
|-
|}

==In popular culture==
''[[Batman Begins]]'' depicts the opera being performed onstage, using an excerpt of "Rampiamo, rampiamo, che il tempo ci gabba" (Chorus of Warlocks and Witches from act 2, scene 2) from the 1973 EMI recording (see "Recordings" above). During the scene, performers dressed as bat-like monsters frighten young [[Batman|Bruce Wayne]], who asks to leave.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

An avant-garde video directed by Yevgeniy Timokhin on a remix with the verse "E' mia madre addormentata" from Margareta's aria in act 3 was awarded the Euro Video Grand Prix 2006.<ref>{{cite news | first = Alexandra | last = Matoshko | title = Ukraine wins Euro Video Grand Prix. | date = 14 June 2006 | url = http://www.kyivpost.com |work=[[Kyiv Post]]| access-date = 14 June 2006}}</ref>

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{Reflist|30em}}
'''Sources'''
*{{cite book|last=Ashbrook|first=William|author-link=William Ashbrook|year=1998|chapter=''Mefistofele''|editor=Stanley Sadie|editor-link=Stanley Sadie|title=[[The New Grove Dictionary of Opera]]|volume=3|location=London|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|isbn=0-333-73432-7}}
*{{cite book|last=Borovsky|first=Victor|year=1988|title=Chaliapin|location=New York|publisher=Knopf|isbn=0-394-56096-5}}

==Further reading==
*[[William Ashbrook|Ashbrook, William]] (2001), in [[Amanda Holden (writer)|Holden, Amanda]] (ed.), ''The New Penguin Opera Guide'', New York: Penguin Putnam, 2001. {{ISBN|0-14-029312-4}}
*[[George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood|Harewood, Earl of]] and [[Antony Peattie]] (eds.) (1997), ''The New Kobbe's Opera Book'', London: Ebury Press. {{ISBN|0-09-181410-3}}
*[[Stanley Sadie|Sadie Stanley]] (ed.) (1997), ''The New Grove Book of Operas'', New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
* Original libretto of the first version: {{cite book|date=1868|edition=2|language=it|location=Milan|publisher=Ricordi (at the Author's expense)|title=Mefistofele - Opera in un prologo e cinque atti di Arrigo Boito da rappresentarsi al R. Teatro della Scala - Carnevale-Quaresima 1868|url=https://archive.org/details/mefistofeleopera00boit_0/mode/2up}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator -->
* Original libretto of the second version: {{cite book|date=n.d.|edition=3|language=it|location=Milan ''et al.''|publisher=Ricordi|title=Mefistofele - Opera di Arrigo Boito - Teatro Comunitativo di Bologna Autunno 1875|url=http://corago.unibo.it/esemplare/0000516815/0000516812}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --> (also accessible online at [https://books.google.com/books?id=yN4NBMCaVYkC&dq=Signora+De+Fassi+mefistofele+1875&pg=PA3 Google Books])

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://opera.stanford.edu/Boito/Mefistofele/libretto.html Libretto]
*{{IMSLP|work=Mefistofele (Boito, Arrigo)|cname=''Mefistofele'' (Boito)}}

{{Arrigo Boito}}
{{Faust|state=collapsed}}
{{Portal bar|Opera}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Operas based on Goethe's Faust]]
[[Category:Operas by Arrigo Boito]]
[[Category:Libretti by Arrigo Boito]]
[[Category:Italian-language operas]]
[[Category:1868 operas]]
[[Category:1875 operas]]
[[Category:Operas]]
[[Category:Music based on the Faust legend]]
[[Category:Opera world premieres at La Scala]]
[[Category:The Devil in opera]]