Gounod’s FAUST
Since finishing my doctorate, I have enjoyed learning more about opera. In addition to subscribing to the current season at the Met in New York, I’ve been attending the various Met in HD productions held in theaters. The most recent Live in HD was the Met’s new production of Gounod’s Faust, set in the time between the two world wars. I by no means consider myself an opera aficionado - I go to broaden my understanding of the art form and to simply enjoy - but I did enjoy the performances, production values and story.
I have never seen this particular opera or even heard any music by the composer, Charles Gounod. I found the score very accessible, with many beautiful arias and a big chorus. The singing was magnificent. The three principals - Jonas Kaufmann as Faust, René Pape as the devil, and Marina Poplavskaya as Marguerite - have tremendous voices as well as acting ability. While I enjoy attending live performances at the Met, it is very nice to see faces, costumes and sets up close in the HD productions. That’s something that you lose sitting in the Family Circle of the cavernous Metropolitan Opera House! Another plus to the HD productions is the interviews during intermissions. All three principals were interviewed across the two intermissions. It’s interesting to hear each actor speak about their interpretation while seeing the set changes occur in the background. I definitely recommend attending the HD productions as well as getting to the opera house occasionally. There has been criticism about the Met’s move to movie theaters. I think it has done a lot to make opera more accessibly to the masses.
You can see excerpts from Faust on YouTube:
I’m looking forward to seeing Madame Butterfly at the Met later this month as well as the repeat of Philip Glass’ Satyagraha and the new Baroque pastiche, The Enchanted Island in HD.
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