Wolfgang’s Anthems Fuel A Faustian Bargain
Experience the exhilarating desperation of a man who made a bargain with the Devil and encounters a love doomed to fail in this rock opera adaptation of Goethe’s ‘Faust.’
Words Donavil Angeles
Photos courtesy of Areté and Paw Castillo
November 10, 2025
In this Philippine adaptation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s timeless tragedy, Si Faust makes its way into the theaters with a rock-infused narrative about damnation, temptation, and love.
With the collaboration of the OPM band Wolfgang, featuring frontman Basti Artadi, and directed by Nelsito Gomez, Si Faust is set to open this November with Areté at the Doreen Blackbox Theater, Areté.
Deal with the Devil
“If ever I to the moment shall say: Beautiful moment, do not pass away! Then you may forge your chains to bind me, Then I will put my life behind me.”
Si Faust takes on the backdrop of a Philippines ruined by the plague. A foreign preacher, Faust, stands at the center of it all. Gradually growing weary of his circumstances and the world’s, in a hopeless plea, he decided to strike a bargain with the Devil, Mephistopheles.
When Faust was granted all the youth, power, and miracles he could imagine, his life could not be perfect. But his damning fate and the consequences of his deal came crawling back into his life in the form of Marga, an innocent girl whom he was enthralled by and drawn to, forging the start of an ill-fated romance.
Alas, Marga’s world and soul ultimately had to bear the weight of Faust’s fall from grace, owing to the valiant deal he declared with the Devil that he shall accept his ruin, once he found his one true satisfaction in life.
In the titular role of Faust is Joseton Vergel de Dios, joined by Maita Ponce as Mephistopheles, the Devil, Sha-ira Opsimar as Marga, Joshua Cabiladas as Tiño, and Matel Patayon as Martha. Alongside them are MC Dela Cruz, Jam Binay, JV Fulgencio, Thor Ganchero, and Iya Villanueva, gracing the stage of Si Faust.
With the story incorporating songs from Wolfgang's catalog, each tune and lyric promises to convey the picture-perfect, Faustian narrative, fusing the powerful songs with the essence of the band into the journey of the protagonist in this sung-through opera.
The Wolfgang canon would feature the band’s greatest hits, weaving them into the narrative of Faust, transforming the tale into a bold, unapologetic, and passionate encounter – and therefore blending an international classic with a homegrown rock that is creatively Filipino.
Si Faust will run from November 14 to 16, opening on November 14 with a 7:30 PM show, followed by a 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM show on November 15-16. For its second week, it is set to run from November 20 to 21 at 7:30 PM showtimes, concluding with two shows on November 22 and 23 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Tickets are available at https://arete.helixpay.ph/.
