Boito - Mefistofele / Ramey · Marton · Domingo · Tedesco · Takács · Farkas · Pataki

1. Mefistofele, opera
Composed by Arrigo Boito
Performed by Hungarian State Opera Chorus , Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Giuseppe Patane

Tracks:

Mefistofele: Prologue In Heaven - Preludio
Mefistofele: Prologue In Heaven - 'Ave Signor' (Coro)
Mefistofele: Prologue In Heaven - Scherzo instrumentale
Mefistofele: Prologue In Heaven - 'Ave Signor' (Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Prologue In Heaven - 'T'e noto Faust?' (Coro, Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Prologue In Heaven - 'Siam nimbi volanti' (Coro, Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Prologue In Heaven - 'Salve Regina!' (Coro)
Mefistofele: Act One - 'Perche di la?' (Coro)
Mefistofele: Act One - 'Qua il bicchier!' (Coro)
Mefistofele: Act One - 'Al soave raggiar' (Faust)
Mefistofele: Act One - ' Movere a diporto' (Wagner, Coro)
Mefistofele: Act One - 'Sediam sovra quel sasso' (Faust, Wagner, Coro)
Mefistofele: Act One - 'Dai campi, dai prati' (Faust)
Mefistofele: Act One - 'Ola! Chi urla?' (Faust, Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Act One - 'Son lo Spirito' (Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Act One - 'Strano figlio del Caos' (Faust, Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Act One - 'Se tu mi doni un'ora' (Faust, Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Act Two 'Cavaliero illustre e saggio' (Margherita, Faust, Mefistofele, Marta)
Mefistofele: Act Two - 'Colma il tuo cor' (Faust, Margherita, Mefistofele, Marta)

Tracks:

Mefistofele: Act Two - 'Su, cammina' (Mefistofele, Coro)
Mefistofele: Act Two - 'Folletto!' (Faust, Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Act Two - 'Ascolta. Si'agita il bosco' (Mefistofele, Coro)
Mefistofele: Act Two - 'Largo, largo a Mefistofele' (Mefistofele, Coro)
Mefistofele: Act Two - Danza di streghe - 'Popoli!' (Mefistofele, Coro)
Mefistofele: Act Two - 'Ecco il mondo
Mefistofele: Act Two - 'Riddiamo!' (Coro, Faust, Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Act Two - 'Ah! Su! Riddiamo' (Coro)
Mefistofele: Act Three - 'L'altra notte in fondo' (Margherita, Faust, Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Act Three - 'Dio di pieta!' (Margherita, Faust)
Mefistofele: Act Three - 'Lontano, lontano, lontano' (Margherita, Faust)
Mefistofele: Act Three - 'Sorge il di!' (Mefistofele, Margherita, Faust)
Mefistofele: Act Three - 'Spunta l'aurora pallida' (Margherita, Faust, Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Act Four - 'La luna immobile' (Elena, Pantalis, Faust)
Mefistofele: Act Four - 'Ecco la notte del classico Sabba' (Mefistofele, Faust)
Mefistofele: Act Four - Andantino danzante
Mefistofele: Act Four - 'Ah! Trionfi ad Elena' (Coro, Elena)
Mefistofele: Act Four - 'Chi Vien? O strana' (Coro)
Mefistofele: Act Four - 'Forma ideal' (Faust, Elena, Mefistofele, Pantalis, Nereo, Coro)
Mefistofele: Epilogue - 'Cammino, cammina' (Mefistofele, Faust)
Mefistofele: Epilogue - 'Giunto sul passo estremo' (Faust, Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Epilogue - 'Ecco la nuova turba' (Faust, Mefistofele)
Mefistofele: Epilogue - 'Vien! Io distendo questo mantel

Customer Reviews:

An Opera That Deserves Better.......2004-02-02

The world of opera would certainly not be the same if Arrigo Boito chose a different career path. Boito played a significant role in the revision of Verdi's SIMON BOCANEGRA and wrote the libretti for OTELLO and FALSTAFF. Boito also wrote the libretto for Ponchielli's LA GIOCONDA. Obviously Boito knew what could work on stage as OTELLO and LA GIOCONDA's success proves, but as a composer, Boito was less successful. As a composer, was a "one hit wonder" with his opera MEFISTOFELE. The work is not widely performed, though some major opera companies do revive it from time to time.

The opera is based on the legend of Faust, and shares some characteristics of Gounod's FAUST but the story also has differences, specifically the inclusion of the Elena portion of the story. The score of the opera has beautiful and powerful moments, especially the choral pieces. In this recording, Samuel Ramey plays the role of Mefistofele, and he handles the role with power and tremendous vocal ability. There are moments of sheer beauty in his singing that gives his character a certain deceptive nature, which is in keeping with a being like the devil, but it can at times also have an eerie quality which is also appropriate. Both Placido Domingo and Eva Marton are excellent as Faust and Margherita/Elena respectively, but the real superstars of this recording are The Hungarian State Orchestra and the Hungarian Opera Chorus. Under the direction of Guiseppe Patane, the orchestra and chorus make this recording exceptional.

A lukewarm two thumbs up.......1999-03-07

A good recording; but why did we need it? There can be no competition with the magnificent Mefistofele of Cezare Siepi on the recording also featuring such luminaries as Mario del Monaco and Renata Tebaldi.

Track Listings: