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The New Yorker, December 12 (?), 2011 |
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Gounod: Faust, Metropolitan Opera New York, ab 29. November 2011 |
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METROPOLITAN OPERA
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Gounod’s “Faust” inaugurated the old Metropolitan Opera House in 1883, but
recent attempts in the new auditorium have been wanting. Des McAnuff’s
production is not much better than Andrei Serban’s, from 2005, but at least
it’s easier to ignore: the unit set is made mostly of white metal
scaffolding. (The production’s theme has something to do with atom bombs;
the herky-jerky choreography is risible.) The main musical problem lies with
the usually commanding Jonas Kaufmann, in the title role: he gets the high
notes, but, with his vague French and square phrasing, he has little feeling
for the style. The bright spots are provided by René Pape, whose
Méphistophélès is so winning that he could persuade an entire audience to
sell their souls, and Marina Poplavskaya, who, as the pathetic Marguerite,
once again triumphs over a faulty vocal technique to produce a sympathetic,
three-dimensional character. The orchestra, under the sure leadership of
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, offers rich textures and insistent thrust. (Dec. 10 at
1 and Dec. 13 at 7:30.)
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