Release Date: 30 April 2005
Label: Naxos - Historical / Naxos Historical
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 3
Barcode: 747313308323
Genres: Classical
Composer/Series: GOUNOD
Description
Charles Gounod (1818-1893)FaustCharles Gounod achieved great acclaim and popularityin addition to musical influence in France during thenineteenth century. In no way was he a radical comparedto his compatriot Berlioz but, recognising hislimitations, stuck to what he knew best. He wrote in totalfourteen operas of which Faust is the fourth. Derivedfrom Michel Carre's three-act play Faust et Marguerite,the scenario was in turn itself derived from Gerard deNerval's translation of the first part of Goethe's Faust.Gounod's librettists Jules Barbier and Carre fashioned avaried and profound dramatic work which, if by today'sworld it comes over as conventional and sentimental,proved immensely popular with nineteenth centuryaudiences. For the composer's part the score is wellcrafted and contains a wealth of melodic charm. Thereare telling vocal r?â??les for Marguerite (even if she doesnot appear until the end of Act 1), Faust, themarvellously sinister Mephistophel?â?¿s and Valentin.Originally the score also contained spoken dialoguewhich made the work seem less grand opera than operacomiqueat the first performance in the The?â?ótre Lyriquein Paris on 19th March 1859. Even before the premi?â?¿re,several entire numbers were cut and the famousSoldiers' Chorus (Act 3 Scene 2) was added at a latestage. Reacting to criticism, Gounod then composedsung recitatives that were added the following year forperformances in Strasbourg, Rouen and Bordeaux. Forthe 1859 production at the Paris Opera the composeradded the obligatory ballet music. Thereafter in its 1869format the opera became a huge success in major housesthroughout the world for the next fifty years. In Paris, forexample, it had five new productions between 1875 and1975.The title r?â??le demands much of its interpreter bothvocally and dramatically. The character at the openingof the opera is an old man who is then transformed tobecome youthful and poetic once more. The vocal partrequires sweetness, purity and evenness of tone,delicacy and elegance, declamatory power, and a goodwell-placed top C for the big aria 'Salut, demeure'. Forthe r?â??le of Marguerite the contrast of a finely-tunedcoloratura technique for the florid 'Jewel Song' must beallied to a lyrical quality for the Garden Scene. As forthe sinister and satanic Mephistophel?â?¿s, the performermust be overbearing, delicate, and display aconsiderable range of acting talents, in addition topossessing all traits and colours in his vocal palette. Anexcess of any of these qualities and the interpretationcan appear wildly over the top. Then the comparativelyminor baritone r?â??le of Valentin requires much of itsperformer: a good top register, much style and presence.His aria in Act 1 Scene 2 (Avant de quitter ces lieux)was composed for the English baritone Charles Santleywhen the opera was given in London in 1864. The firstproduction at the Metropolitan Opera House took placeon 22nd October 1883. Thereafter it has remained in therepertoire most of that ti
Tracklisting
William Primrose
William Primrose
Vinay:Nbc So&Chorus:Toscanini
Vienna Po:Knappertsbusch
Vienna Po:Furtwangler
Vienna&Berlin Po:Furtwangler
Various Composer
Various (1923-1955)
