Goethe auf der französischen Opernbühne

Faust, Mignon, Werther: these opera titles are just some examples of French music theatre produced between 1830 and 1900 that are based on Goethe’s works. This study is dedicated to a series of operatic successes by librettists such as Eugène Scribe and composers ranging from Berlioz and Gounod to Massenet. The focus of the study is on the role of these intermedial works of art in the French reception of Goethe: firstly, their tradition and development are examined, followed by the cross-connections and the influence of this popular genre on his reception in other artistic fields. The author not only considers the librettos, but also the music, the translations and contemporary performances of these operas in other German-speaking countries.