FF is a FABULOUS Faust, I was in the chorus when he sang the role in San Diego in 2001, and I have never heard a bigger, more communicative voice. Bravo Maestro!
@@JosephDoody1 absolutely right, I meant Mephistopheles. And he looked fantastic, part of his makeup was a fake nose which gave him a very impressive profile.
@MrBlinder91 Samuel Ramey was gifted with natural sexiness. I still find Furlanetto to be very devilish. He's always charming to watch. Also, that laugh is fantastic. No doubt Ramey is an incredible performer, but each actor has a different portrayal of this character. It's not that Furlanetto plays the devil any less adequately, it's just that you prefer Ramey's interpretation. :)
I love Ferruccio Furlanetto so much, but every time I hear him my mind goes straight to Leporello. He owns the role, absolutely... but it's not the best when he's playing Mephistopheles. Iunno though.
This role is not for him. He does not look or sound sinister, and his laughs are clownish rather than devilish. His voice is also not natural in this aria's low range, which is where the devil should be best. Passable, but that's about it.
His support could be better. That's why you hear him sometimes craking on certain notes of his passagio. The rest is good. good acting, good "evil laughter"
When I first listened to this performance, I hated it. I'd been used to Ramey's singing and this was like being dunked in cold water. However, listening to Furlanetto's upper range, his dramatic but clear high notes, and taking into account his acting, I must acquiesce that this is a pretty good performance. However, I still don't believe Furlanetto makes a very good Mephistopheles overall.
