I love opera and I love Faust. I am also a fan of Freni and Ghiaurov. However, this was a disappointment, probably the most disappointing opera production I have seen in a while. I will get the good things out of the way, the story is still compelling, the music is outstanding, the orchestra and conducting are good and Mirella Freni is a very touching Margherite, singing and acting beautifully.
But everything else isn't up to par. The costumes and sets are alright, but didn't do much for me. Mephistopheles' costumes probably fares the best, but I disliked the costumes of the soldiers, they didn't look like soldiers to me. The lighting is for my liking quite dull, I know some scenes require austerity but some scenes are so darkly lit you can only just about see what is going on. It probably didn't help either that when I saw it the picture quality wasn't very good coming across as hazy.
Other than Freni, the rest of the cast range from standard to pretty ghastly. Alfredo Kraus looks the part of Faust, and while he interacts well with Freni and Ghiaurov there are other times where he comes across as too restrained or stolid. Vocally, he's not too bad if you can forgive a verging-on-sharp top note in his big aria Salut! Demeure chaste et pure.
I just want to say I love Nicolai Ghiaurov, and he does try his best as the imposing demon Mephistopheles. He puts his rich, noble voice to perfect use, he does act convincingly with enough personality to captivate and he certainly looks like an imposing demon. Against all this, and I blame the staging more than Ghiaurov himself, I personally don't think Ghiaurov is sinister or devillish enough here, which is disappointing considering that I have seen and heard him before in the role and consider it one of his best. His Le Veau D'or was beautifully sung and he shows charisma, but it is lacking in character I feel, while his mocking serenade could have been more mocking and twisted.
Everybody else didn't do it for me, the soldiers' chorus especially was unbalanced in sound and pitch and was also static in staging. Speaking of the staging, that was probably the worst asset about this production. I too didn't like how the Jewel song was choreographed and set, but the real disaster was the final scene. I didn't feel any tension or urgency despite the principals' best efforts, and the uplifting last part was spoilt by staging that added absolutely nothing to the drama.
In conclusion, despite the efforts of the principals, especially Freni, this Faust was a real disappointment. 5/10 Bethany Cox
But everything else isn't up to par. The costumes and sets are alright, but didn't do much for me. Mephistopheles' costumes probably fares the best, but I disliked the costumes of the soldiers, they didn't look like soldiers to me. The lighting is for my liking quite dull, I know some scenes require austerity but some scenes are so darkly lit you can only just about see what is going on. It probably didn't help either that when I saw it the picture quality wasn't very good coming across as hazy.
Other than Freni, the rest of the cast range from standard to pretty ghastly. Alfredo Kraus looks the part of Faust, and while he interacts well with Freni and Ghiaurov there are other times where he comes across as too restrained or stolid. Vocally, he's not too bad if you can forgive a verging-on-sharp top note in his big aria Salut! Demeure chaste et pure.
I just want to say I love Nicolai Ghiaurov, and he does try his best as the imposing demon Mephistopheles. He puts his rich, noble voice to perfect use, he does act convincingly with enough personality to captivate and he certainly looks like an imposing demon. Against all this, and I blame the staging more than Ghiaurov himself, I personally don't think Ghiaurov is sinister or devillish enough here, which is disappointing considering that I have seen and heard him before in the role and consider it one of his best. His Le Veau D'or was beautifully sung and he shows charisma, but it is lacking in character I feel, while his mocking serenade could have been more mocking and twisted.
Everybody else didn't do it for me, the soldiers' chorus especially was unbalanced in sound and pitch and was also static in staging. Speaking of the staging, that was probably the worst asset about this production. I too didn't like how the Jewel song was choreographed and set, but the real disaster was the final scene. I didn't feel any tension or urgency despite the principals' best efforts, and the uplifting last part was spoilt by staging that added absolutely nothing to the drama.
In conclusion, despite the efforts of the principals, especially Freni, this Faust was a real disappointment. 5/10 Bethany Cox
