Saturday, December 10, 2011

Preparing for Faust

Remember before you start carping that everyone in Faust has better stuff to sing than the tenor.



"Le veau d'or", the ballad of the golden calf, is for the bass-baritone Méphistophélès

 


The men's chorus has this wonderful march.



The soprano Marguerite gets this incredible Jewel Song, sung here by my favorite Victoria de los Angeles.



Even the stupid brother Valentin gets this magnificent aria.



And Siebel, a completely insignificant person, gets this.



This is Faust's aria. Oh well. I'm just saying. I personally find the sentiments expressed in this aria, at a point in the opera when we know exactly what will happen, completely disgusting.  The ovation is stunning.  I have to say I wholeheartedly concur.  This man knows his French opera.  If you want to know how to pronounce French, listen to him.  And Regine Crespin.




Here we have Mirella Freni's version of the ending.

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