I truly believe that THIS is the greatest, most sublime ending of ANY OPERA - it torpedoes me from the depths of my deepest held emotions and catapults me into the highest bliss possible of my soul.
Totally agree. In fact, this is my all-time favorite opera--and I've been listening to opera for over 30 years! The melodies are sublime throughout. Boito has not yet gotten the recognition he deserves.
My daughter was in the children's chorus with HGO, but was not yet old enough to be in this opera staged there....this was the most powerful chorus I've ever heard of hundreds of performances I've seen - especially the opening and closing chorus - it gave me and image of what Heaven must be like someday. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be part of it.
This is EVERYTHING you go to the Opera to experience. It is the eternal story. And for my money, the best dam opera ever written. So many memorable arias...and of course the devil himself would be jealous of Samuel. BRAVO!
I saw this when a very young Sam Ramey took over the role in the midseventies. His performance and the staging at The New York City Opera absolutely blew me away. I have not seen anything so wonderful since. For the opening and closing the chorus was in various parts of the theater and voices came from all around us. In the finale, Ramey did three backwards somersaults when cast out of heaven. It was so surprising that a young woman sitting in front of us fell out of her chair.
Probably one of the great stagings of all time of this opera? And the finale rivals anything out there. It manages to be at once Wagner and Puccini at the same time. :)
I think this is the most beautiful piece of music I ever gonna hear in my life. Always brings me to tears. I get this unexplainable feeling from it! Just Epic!
I saw this actual opera live. When the chorus did it's main piece, I don't think I was alone with goosebumps. I'm now in my 70's and it was one of the most memorable times of my life. Thank you for posting.
This from a Jewish agnostic: Have priests, nuns, and ministers waiting at the exits of this opera -- and Sour Angelika -- and I'll be ready to sign up!
As far as I know, it almost was made for Feodor Shalyapin. But there are similarities between them: both are one of the greatest opera singers of their time... and not only singers but magnificent actors too... and the best Mephistopheleses ever... and seem to be just nice people with good sense of humour ^_^
@@ian1856 I have two major misses in my small opera life. I never got to see Treigle or Corelli live and both were measuring sticks. I can find a lot of Corelli but very little on Norman. The opera unfortunately losses something with these mod ending. Rolling off the stage and the lights going out is so impacting!
@@ian1856 I am always amazed that the Arts are always screaming for money and spend like drunkards in coming up with new up to date productions, like Rigoletto set in Las Vegas ( no hunchback etc). Use the standard costumes, save a fortune, opera fits the libretto, keep it for real, and save a ton of money for future productions. NYC opera was great for years and then went broke.
Finally, a clear picture and stunning sound! They must have transferred this to a DVD. I saw it in person here in San Francisco... It was over the top brilliant!
No doubt absolutely captivating. A sexy devil makes it very engaging. He is tremendous, and I find myself rooting and despising Mefio. Breathtaking production with a sexy superstar who creates conflict about our moral principles. What better drama could there be?
So fortunate to see this live in its original run in San Francisco 4 times, twice in the Orchestra, twice standing room. Perfect cast and Samuel Ramey was on fire! Best performance I've ever seen, hands down! I watch the dvd every few months or so. Never gets tiring...
I just saw this production at the Met with Christian van Horn as a fine Mefistofele. But it’s true that Ramey owned this role for many years. I saw him in the old NYCOpera production, and it was an astonishing experience.
Great to see this video. One must wonder that this opera is on stage so very seldom ... There are wonderful chorus scenes and favorable soloists parts ....
First, great finale by Boito. Powerful, overwhelming. Second, there may have been a greater Mefistofole then Ramey, but I've sure never seen him. Electrifying. Last, I love this production. When I used to watch this many years ago on VHS with my then little kids, they were mesmerized by this performance. They called it the 'Devil Opera'. Had it on VHS, DVD, and currently Blu-ray. One of my favorites our of almost 100 operas I have on DVD or Blu-ray. Unfortunately, Ramey was the last great Bass we've had so far. Hopefully there's another in the pipeline to eventually do honor to this, one of the real showpieces for a bass.
Once again we observe the mastery of opera composers...it is humanly impossible to position yourself in a role of Satan without being admired by the voice and power of this baritone. A true polarity that must be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to create without special sensitivity. The heavenly choir frames this scene and makes it out of this world...
Ritengo che sia l'opera più bella composta con tutto il rispetto per tutte le altre stupende opere composte da verdi Donizetti bellini rossini mascagni Puccini ecc ecc..stupendi capolavori ma questa opera mi procura brividi più intensi di qualsiasi altra opera.
Do you think Gounod's opera Faust is better? For a poet who wrote the great librettos for Verdi's Otello and Falstaff, I would think not. It certainly treats the subject matter both musically and libretto wise more profounfly. I agree it is a great production and I saw Ramey do it as well as Treigle(many years ago) thelatter many years back
I love Gounod's Faust, and the final trio is beautiful, but I am a sucker for grand endings, which is why Mefistofele blows Gounod's opera out of the water.
Esto es un decorado escénico como Dios manda, y no las porquerías del Liceu. Magnífico todo: voces, coro, decorados, director, todo. En USA está ahora el auténtico espíritu de la ópera y en Europa la decadencia en manos de directores de escena "vedettes" (en todos los sentidos)
jordiboma ¡Anda yaaaa.!.Y no digas estupideces. El público se nutre de gente de todo el mundo. En EU2, son como los Simpsons. Europa, lo ha mamado.EU2, NO. Lo sabe de oído.
Ramey was great.....I never got to see Treigle.........still prefer the old setting with old costuming and the devil rolling off the stage and the lights go out!!!!! I am told Treigle used to roll off forward into the orchestra pit........can't find any film on him.
@@ian1856 thank you so much for your reply. As time moves on there is a tendency to forget Treigle since there is surprising so little available about his contributions. A shame there is no video of his finality in this fabulous opera. When I first saw a performance in Newark with Jerome Hines, I was memorized, and then hooked.
@@ian1856 From everything I see and read Treigle was the measuring stick. Saw Beverly several times but unfortunately not with Norman. Both ignored by the Met at that time.......hard to believe.
I first saw this opera at the Terme de Caracalla in Rome over 40 years ago with Cesare Siepe. Then in LA with Triegle. Then later with Ramey. This final scene, which is only partially shown here, has always blown me away.
I think that was 1970. I was there on business, went to the Caracalla for opera, but - since I had never heard of Mefistofele back then and only knew Siepi as Don from the best recordings, I went to some other (better known) opera in stead ... Could shoot myself, Siepi and Mephistofele right there and I MISSED them!!!
Except that Turadot's finale is fake. Puccini wasn't able to five the opera such a improbable finale. After all, Turandot is more adept of blood than "love"
Grande Boito questa opera é un vero capolavoro con un finale meraviglioso e spettacolare. Anche Giuseppe Verdi si complimentó con Boito ancor prima della rappresentazione
All mortal mysteries I have proved - The Real, the Ideal; The love of simple maidenhood, And of the highest goddess - Yet the Real was sorrow, and the Ideal but a dream. Nearing the utmost limit Of life’s extremest goal, In a vision delightful, Did wander forth my soul. King of some placid region, Unknown to care and striving, I found a faithful people - And fain would aid their living. Under a wise law, I saw new towns arising. A happy, prosperous nation, With homes and flocks surprising! Ah! Would then, that this fair vision Could but be my last dream; The ultimate need Of my existence ...
