My sentiments exactly! Thomas Hampson's look of pure horror takes my breath away. The portrayal of pure evil is done magnificently by Gregory Kunde, whose expressions tell as much of the story as the sung words. BTW, if you have the stomach for a really out-there Faust opera, may I suggest 'Historia von D. Johann Fausten,' by Alfred Schnittke, particularly the third act, called 'The Faust Cantata' or 'Seid nüchtern und wachet.' Imagine Mephistopheles as a woman, who sings of Faust's downfall to a tango beat! (You can find it here: ru-vid.com/show-UCahUtCbKYWCcGG-UubZMQrA?app=desktop. Skip the first three tracks.)
Jordan uses the standard completion of the two unfinished parts of the score, by Busoni's musical assistant, Philipp Jarnach (1892 - 1982), who was an outstanding composer in his own right. (At least 20 of his own compositions are available on RU-vid and several are outstanding.) The two scenes which Jarnach completed are heard at 2:17:20 - 2:18:55, and the final scene beginning at 2:34:17 until the end. For those interested, the conductor makes 4 cuts of Busoni's own music in earlier parts of the score amounting to a loss of 374 measures of music.
Warum wird der Organist nicht erwähnt? Der Part ist wirklich sehr anspruchsvoll, teilweise kanonisch 2-stimmig im Pedal. Insgesamt eine sehr gute Aufführung, auch Th. Hampsons sehr bewegende Darstellung. Auch vom Orchester geht große Intensität aus und die Tempi sind vom Dirigenten hervorragend getroffen
I like Gregory Kunde . Interesting here he îs Mefisto . This piece îs a hard challenge for artists .IT îs more dramatic than the piecw of Gounod And îs in German . Thomas Hampson îs a very good dramatic tenor .
As an english speaker i cant even find an english libretto of this opera. There are some definite downsides to listening to less popular works of music/opera.
don't worry Julia, it will be available in english soon, I am a traslator and I'm currently working on the brazilian portuguese version , the english is ready, I'll let you know if I can find out how and where it's gonna be available.
Wow! This music has great depth and sounds good and has entertainment value for us yahoos dat doan no nutin 2 ! wow Hampson learned a Busoni opera .How does he sing sitting down ? All these people got together seriusly to do an opera mostly ill-deservedly forgotten .Fantastic orchestration! HopeI can find dis score !!!!
Thank you for sharing this opera. I was in the chorus of the Nevada Opera Guild, the USA primer performance in 1974, in English in Reno Nevada. This is my favorite opera, i would very much like to hear this opera with the reduced vocal score. This is really a brilliant opera, Where Faust signs the contract the chorus sings the Credo. thanks again. PS Beautiful costumes. Busoni left detailed staging directions, would like to see this opera with those staging directions. I love the suit Faust wears at Parma, great contrast. Love the harp floating down, I am a harpist without a harp to play, too expensive to buy a Salvi harp. The drinking song between the Catholics and the Lutherans is my favorite part of the opera, wonderful orchestration. Forgot that this opera a moral tale. thank you Who wrote the ending? there are two version out there, Busoni died before he could finish the opera.
Douglas Matley I don't think its anyones "favourite opera" but personally I love it, let's say its our secret cult opera. A work for the connaisseurs. The Parma scene is exquisite. .
+papoocanada Well, actually, it's MY favorite opera too! My second favorite is Franz Schreker's "Die Gezeichneten" and my third is Verdi's "Aïda." Something for everyone, no? ;)
Faust as a Bonsai enthuistiast was a new idea to me, but what the hell, why not pop any old odd incongruous thing into the pot. Truly great opera deserves better than this.
