Johann Wolfgang von Goethe took the case of Susanna Margareta Brandt, who was executed for infanticide in 1772 after becoming pregnant out of wedlock and murdering her child out of panic over social exclusion, as the basis for the Gretchen conspiracy in his human drama Faust. Der Tragödie erster Teil (1808) Director Anthony Pilavachi's play explores the development of this multi-layered female character, who goes down because of her seductiveness. "Anthony Pilavachi once again succeeds in delivering an absolutely convincing directorial work!" (Der Opernfreund) or "Bei Margarethe alle freak aus!" (Rheinische Post) was the verdict of the press after its premiere in Krefeld last season.

Numerous composers have set the Faust material to music for the musical theatre stage: Louis Spohr (1816), Hector Berlioz (1846) and Ferruccio Busoni (1925) are among them. However, the most referenced version is certainly that of Charles Gounod (1859). His captivating and layered composition takes us into the romantic feelings of Faust's longing for love, illustrates the creepy temptations of the devil and sympathises with Margarethe's suffering. Gounod's music demonstrates a perfect balance between dramatic climaxes and lyrical passages.