Art Carnuntum festival opens with Goethe’s Faust

The Art Carnuntum festival commenced in Petronell-Carnuntum with a production of Goethe’s ‘Faust’. The opening performance, directed by Torsten Fischer, was delayed by one day due to severe weather in Lower Austria that impacted the Roman amphitheater venue.

In this minimalist solo production, actor Dominique Horwitz portrays a manic version of Faust. The performance is characterized by raw emotionality, featuring flamboyant makeup, unconventional costumes, and expressive gestures. Horwitz’s interpretation includes elements of Mephisto and addresses the ‘Gretchenfrage’, focusing on the character's psychological turmoil and inner conflicts.