Music Lane

Posted by John C. - Aussie (B) on May 31, 2002 at 18:23:52

Had some fellow music lovers over last night and we looked and listened to this mind blowing production. Cast:

Vesselina Kasarova (mezzo) Marguerite;
Paul Groves (tenor) Faust;
Williard White (bass-baritone) Mephistopheles;
Andreas Macco (bass) Brander
Orfeon Donostiarra de San Sebastian, Tolz Boys' Choir, Staatskapelle Berlin,
Sylvain Cambreling (conductor)

Originally Berlioz did not intend this to be a stage production but this performance was just that, maybe to extreme. Try as we could we could not interpret some of the symbolism (e.g the sarcophagus's being trundled about from time to time) and, in typical DVD style, there were few clues in the sparse liner notes. A preliminary Google search failed to reveal much except

http://www.naxos.com/NewDesign/fprofile.files/bprofile.files/news42.htm

which announced the DVD had been given a gong.

Does anyone have any further links which might explain a fuller explanation of the symbolism being displayed?

If you have a DVD player, do beg, borrow or steal a copy of this Arthaus production (PAL: 100 003, NTSC 100 018). Interestingly Arthaus classify it under “Opera” which it was not intended to be but which this production turns it into.

Musically it is excellent and the visuals are stunning, if somewhat mystifying at times.

John


Peace at AA