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La Damnation de Faust by the French composer Hector Berlioz was first performed in 1846 in Paris. He described it as a dramatic legend in four parts.
Unusually for an opera, La Damnation de Faust also contains a children's chorus. Based on Goethe's dramatic poem, Faust, the opera is always considered a challenge to stage. Even Berlioz himself conceded that the stage techniques of his age were not able to do it justice and that it would come into its own in the future. It is, however, more often staged as a concert performance. At its first premiere La Damnation de Faust was not well received either by the public or by critics; Berlioz suffered a huge financial loss. Today the opera is performed regularly in concert halls with the occasional operatic production.

HISTORY
In this tragic opera feelings of the worthlessness of life are explored. Faust feels there must be something better for him and thinks he has found this with his love for a younger woman, Marguerite. His actions, however, leave her ill and at death's door. In exchange for her redemption, Faust sells his soul to Mephistopheles, or the devil, not realizing the implications.