THE DAMNATION OF FAUST: On our first visit to Salzburg we were introduced to the stage setting of the Felsenreitschule, the old equestrian school, with its arched galleries as a backdrop, the tree in the corner, the sliding roof. Nowhere in the world is there a stranger theatrical space. The first ideas to surface were directed towards the use of the uniqueness of the space as part of the scenic concept, because of the good possibilities which it offers to the Furan language. Sifting through titles during the visit to Salzburg, Gerard Mortier threw forward the suggestion of staging Hector Berlioz's The Damnation of Faust. Having principal lyrical figures and a philharmonic orchestra to work with is a challenge for our creative project. This is a project with the collaboration of Jaume Plensa. Premiere: 19 August, 1999, The Salzburg Festival.