Mefistofele, by Boito

1997-06-24 Mefistofele (Boito), Wiener Staatsoper

Mefistofele = Egils Silins
Faust = Keith Ikaia-Purdy
Margherita/Elena = Michele Crider
Marta/Pantalis = Nelly Boschkowa
Wagner/Nerèo = Ruben Broitman

Michael Halász, conductor

Spielleitung - Lorenza Cantini, Diana Kienast
Choreographie - Antonella Agati
Choreinstudierung - Dietrich D. Gerpheide

So in 1997 I saw this opera in Wiener Staatsoper. This opera is just like Gounod's Faust taking its story from Goethe's Faust. The problem with Boito's opera is that it tries to take everything, it has a Prologue, Opera and Epilogue. It is too much and so it does not have the same strong focus as Gounod's opera has. And therefore we don't care so much. Plus Gounod has better tunes. On my "review" I mention that it has some glorious music, but I don't remember anything from it.

From my iTunes:
MEFISTOFELE - Giunto sul passo estremo 3:03 José Cura 6 av 12 Aurora : opera arias - José Cura BOITO, Arrigo (1842 - 1918) 2002
MEFISTOFELE - Dai campi, dai prati 2:33 Rolando Villazon 4 av 15 Cielo e mar - Rolando Villazon BOITO, Arrigo (1842 - 1918) 2008
MEFISTOFELE - Giunto sul passo estremo 2:38 Rolando Villazon 12 av 15 Cielo e mar - Rolando Villazon BOITO, Arrigo (1842 - 1918) 2008
MEFISTOFELE - Giunto sul passo estremo 2:44 Plácido Domingo 4 av 10 Domingo conducts Milnes, Milnes conducts Domingo BOITO, Arrigo (1842 - 1918) 1972
MEFISTOFELE - Dai campi, dai prati 2:09 José Carreras 13 En Romanza Final - Julian Gayarre BOITO, Arrigo (1842 - 1918) 1986

Dai campi, dai prati from Act 1 Scene 2
Giunto sul passo estremo from the Epilogue

LESSONS FROM THE OPERA: Better focus = the better opera. And naturally don't believe the devil.

Possible reading: Goethe's Faust, or just biograhies of Goethe.




For more reviews from my travels, see www.operaduetstravel.com