The most striking things about this classic, 1958 recording of the opera Faust by Charles Gounod (1818-1893) are its energy and drive. It is quite possibly the liveliest production of the work you’re likely to hear.Andre Cluytens directs the Paris Opera Orchestra and Chorus with a vigor and enthusiasm one seldom encounters in any opera recording, let alone this one, and Nicolai Gedda as the ill-advised Faust and Victoria de los Angeles as the naive heroine Marguerite are equally brilliant, particularly de los Angeles. Moreover, Boris Christoff as Mephistopheles is wonderfully sinister, cackling away like the demented demon he is, and catching fire, no doubt, from the conductor.
For an older recording, the sound is remarkably vivid, too, with good clarity, depth, and stage presence, if not a lot of heft or warmth. It comes off a little forward and wiry, and I would liked to have heard a little more deep bass, especially from the organ, and maybe a touch more ambient bloom. But voices project well, so I shouldn’t complain when the performance is mainly about voice, anyway.
Although this single disc of highlights runs to some seventy-five minutes, for those listeners wanting the complete opera, EMI have also issued the three-disc set in their “Great Recordings of the Century” series. Still, for about five or six bucks, it’s hard to pass up this truncated release because, well, for one, the opera is a bit corny and sentimental by today’s standards and a highlights disc still does it justice; and, two, even if you’re just mildly interested in it, you won’t have expended much to satisfy your curiosity.
JJP
I love this opera. But to savor it fully one needs a more rhythmically alert conductor than Cluytens.
ReplyDeleteThere are several "live" recordings I savor.
First, there is Jean Morel's Metropolitan Opera broadcast recording featuring Bjoerling, Soederstroem, Siepi, and Merrill. No French singer in the cast, yet the two Swedish leading singers are superb.
Then there is Pierre Monteux' s Metropolitan Opera broadcast with Jan Peerce, Victoria de los Angeles, Cesare Siepi and Robert Merrill. The Soldier Chorus is exhilarating especially with the snappy snare drum.