Gheorghiu, Alagna & Terfel "Final Scene" from Faust

[MastersoftheOpera]

I dislike modern productions (or post-modern) and love the old-fashioned, 19th century-styled productions. For Faust I like Gothic melodrama with angels and demons. But as far as Gheorgiu's performance, she's magnificent. She has a lot of passion and intensity. What a damn good actress...and what a great voice. She is the New Maria Callas.

[VolkgartenBySquirrel]

@MastersoftheOpera

I agree. There's something about this production that's a little off. Margarite is mad, but Faust is played as if he's still got the hots, instead of approaching from compassion. Devil may care?

[straumeeee]

BRAVI I TUTTI!!!!

[ManricoV]

Gheoghiu is wonderfull here... !!!

[razzking]

Apparently this is not available on DVD in any country anywhere in the world. I cannot find it for sale anywhere. But it is obviously a commercial video production and not a "bootleg"

So please tell us Mr Oneguin65... where did you get get this?

[Operafiend22]

I don't know why people seem to have such problems with Gheorghiu. I find her enchanting...she's a committed actress and solid vocally. (She doesn't have the vocal affectations of Fleming nor the inconsistency of Netrebko). She knows the vocal traditions of whatever role she sings, and her sensitivity and phrasing are top notch. I've not heard her live, but I dare say the voice is big enough. More importantly it is a malleable voice...she can shape and colour it as the role demands.

[kuromahotsukai]

frech lyrics please!!!

[6pigdek]

Where & by what Opera company was this production performed?

[UllaNielsen]

Is this available on DVD or CD?

[bizhist]

Is it my imagination or is Gheorghiu posing herself and her outfit to look like the "spirit of Marianne" that is seen in David paintings, etc. I too think that this is a knockout version of the opera -- so much better than the formulaic screeching of the Freni version

[chloe7829]

Hi, do you happen what performance this was? Is it available? I would love to buy a complete recording.

Merci

Chloe 7829

[IshyIMB017]

Man, I got so freaked out when I saw that, it was pretty good, but man, I really thought her boops were going to pop out, that would have been disgusting.

[rangerbobcat]

This is the only Mephistopheles actually feels evil. Too often he's just a fop in a devil suit. Terfel does a great job of projecting menace.

[Kenchely]

I agree with yuvalyel. She conveys much better than most Marguerite's madness. One of the good things is that in this performance Marguerite and Mephistopheles don't swamp Faust. Too often you can barely hear him. That was true in the performance of de los Angeles, Gedda and Christov.

[manlyman80345]

I've looked at other videos from this production and it looks so lavish and well-done!!!! This is how grand opera should be; in all forms.

[xarissof]

love the part where Mephistopheles actually salutes Christ with the hat

very poetic

[HMW]

i really like the relatively fast tempo

[chisatosmpai24]

very passionate i feel sympathy towards marguerite and faust as they die and through the whole performance and it was not as rushed as in other versions

[gcalvet81]

Je les adore bravo

[saagua1953]

The singing is fine but Gheorghiu overacts as is now so often the case. Marguerite needs to be demure not a sex pot.

[yuvalyel]

Actually in this scene it is perfectly appropriate...she is mad, traumetized and definitely no longer a virgin.

[SlightlySusan]

I agree!  Why else is she in her underwear with her strap down? She's closing in on the Janet Jackson moment.

[mangosagrado]

beautiful, beautiful! So passionate and committed and great direction and conducting.

[macciboma]

Molto bella opera.

[voltape]

frankly, this is teh fist time I am so impacted by music; so beutiful a finale; the music; the presentation; gounod's procise timing . the glorious theme of redemption of our Lord, the dawning of Easter, at the very moment on which Mephisto pronounces the dooming ........!

[PecsMstr]

What company is this?

[PecsMstr]

She looks like Julia Roberts when she has her hair short. As a matter of fact, I felt the same way in her La Rondine makeup for the MET.

[blichilde]

I like Terfel.But Alagna...well,simply compare with Araiza in Ken Russel's production.And Georghiu is correct,no more.

[cedybor]

What an acting moment!!! How can we create / compose / invent / play such an emotion on stage...

[johndlabella]

Her hip movements are truly odd at this dramatic moment. I think it's tension she's trying to dissipate, but it's unfortunate because dramatically she is more on than usual; true rather than just histrionic.

[bobsopera]

What acting by AG ! Amazingly different from her Pucinni roles. Not only one of the top living sopranos, but actresses as well.

P.S. I agree, Terfel is not Gyiaurov.

[tenorismo]

I agree . he is not Gyiaurov , nor Christov , Nor Pinza he lacks some kind of presence . Either vocal or Physical. Prob one of the greatist scenes in Opera

[djbrooklyn333]

Wonderful performance! Georghiu sings like angel...

[kh3205]

Gheorghiu seems doing the best she could do here. Yet often she sounds overparted, especially with this orchestra. Terfel is a little bit too light after getting used to singers like Ghiaurov or Ramey. However, Terfel is probably the more of what the composer intended. Alagna is very good here. Gheorghiu would be better in a small house. At a big house, I'd rather hear her as Despina.

[genedong]

Just discovered YouTube on my TiVo HD and must comment that this scene is stunning visually, aurally and emotionally. The first time I saw Faust was at the Met in 1960 when my fellow intern and I walked past the opera house and noted that tickets were available in a balcony. When I sat down, I crossed my legs and the person in front of me turned and asked if I intended to sit that way the whole opera. Don't remember my reply. Then the couple next to us, made out the entire opera.

[catholab]

Everyone is praising gheorghui but no one has said that the tenor had a perfect pronunciation wich is very hard when one sing so broadly. great performance, great tenor.

[battycys]

Catholab, The Tenor is French. Of course he has perfect French pronunciation. Don't think that is too difficult for him.

[Matt75003]

Well, I am French, and I can assure you that few French singers nowadays have the ability to pronounce words as clearly and accurately as Alagna does here. Catholab's compliment was fully deserved, imho.

[battycys]

Thank you for the clarification. Much appreciated. I think he's very good as Faust. I also like his singing in Roméo et Juliette.

I have the Aida DVD, in that opera, he was a 'disaster', imho.

[EmilyGreene1984]

I don't like how Angela, after seeing the Devil behind Faust, still seems to remain somewhat mad - at least acting wise. She's supposed to come out of her madness at seeing him.

[Pywacket2]

These complaints of the performance are quite without merit. I still think this is one of the most dramatic and affecting renderings of the final scene that I've ever seen or heard. Full of drama, pathos and full-throated singing. Since opera is overdone by definition, I find it riveting when a singer can sing well and act so convincingly at the same time. Gheorghiu is exceptional. And the angelic chorus is brilliantly done. And Terfel donning his hat and sinking into Hell on a lift is fabulous.

[Pywacket2]

This the most agreeable final scenes of Faust I've seen. Terfel is terrifying. The acting is very fine. Gheorghiu is quite stunning. Love the staging....

[amlirco]

Pls give her finally the dose, this is unbearbale.

[LeTraveler09]

Wow! Probably the worst I have yet to see.

[miirabilis]

Really disagree. It is unusual staging, but great drama and, possibly excepting the tenor, great singing. I hope you will reconsider at some point and come to enjoy it

[italianoperafan]

Somehere I agree... Alagna doing his best facing of the most dreadfull soprano (lucky for her she was Madame Alagna) and actress I have ever seen and heard.

[nekohitomemories]

I dontget it...(is new to opera)

[jorgepoveda]

Hay que saber distinguir entre la vida real y la ficcion. La opera es una ficcion y como tal debe verse. En la vida real (escribir un comentario publico en Youtube-por ejemplo-hacer una afirmacion de la clase que usted hace es un delito ,aparte de que muestra muy mal gusto para escoger la manera de expresarse,olvidando que este es un sitio publico al que tienen acceso no solo personas maduras,sino jovenes y niños en formacion.

[rangerbobcat]

I'm a big Byn Terfel fan.

[ladysnapey]

Beautiful!  My favorite version!

[guy1938]

j'aime beaucoup cette version, trio exeptionel

bravo

[jl19g10]

angela , arrête de massacrer le français!!

[soppydate]

I think Angela has a beautiful voice and to throw the odd tantrum now and then....well...what about Callas? I feel a good producer could stretch her more. Her 1994Violetta at the ROH was sublime. She also seems to enjoy life to the full and all power to her! Long may she continue.

[2672906]

Absolutely brilliant, my favorite version of all time.

[cantanteporsiempre]

woooooooooo she¨s almost naked at the end!!

[fsklaw]

Thank you for posting this wonderful performance. Ms. Georghiu compares wonderfully to many of the sopranos of today as well as in the past 50 years. Yes, she apparently is a diva and his gotten herself in trouble with the Chicago Lyric Opera and the Met. There have been many others who have done the same. She can act and she is beautiful. She sang an absolutely wonderful La Rondine. A word to Andante: You are a pompous ass!

[JMD477]

I saw them actually do this live and thought they sounded terrific. I tend to think that I know a good amount about good singing.

Maybe you need the 'Prince of Tides' treatment...

[Andante735]

Garbage--pure trash. They should both be forbidden to sing. If you think the booing he got at Scala was bad, if his wife sang there she would have been pelted with rotten fruit and vegetables. They still do that, god bless them.

[emmyelle]

Angela Gheorghiu's debut at La Scala (a solo concert with piano backing to make her voice more accessible with almost an a capella feel) was extremely well received. La Scala loved her, then... which doesn't happen just every day.

[emmyelle]

Sorry.. the above was addressed to Andante735, it didn't reply correctly.

Continuing.. Her La Traviata there last summer came off a bit more like one might expect from La Scala; there was a bit of booing after Addio del Passato from the upper balconies, but nothing out of the ordinary. There was no vegetable pelting. And rightly so, because Angela is an amazingly talented soprano.

[JMD477]

This performance was the total balls. Amazingly well sung, well staged, and very moving.

[Andante735]

You don't know very much about good singing do you?

[steffino2]

Please explain what is the problem of Gheorghiu? Please don't insult other people (as you did with JMD477), just explain your very extreme position. She's in tune, sings with expression and has a beautiful lyrical voice + she seems to have a feeling for French music. So I don't understand why you want to forbid her to sing.

[Andante735]

Go take a look at the Final Trio video with Freni, Kraus, and Ghuirov- that's how it should sound. She's a pretentious, cheap, self-copied Callas clone, with a colorless palatte, who shoved her way through because of her looks and shrewd business sense. I'd prefer that she never sang, but I'm powerless to have that happen. In the meantime, people will continue to buy her recordings, and praise her non-existent artistry.

[Iphylm2]

Is there a better finale in opera? I don't think so. This is an excellent rendition. A lesson for all of us: Always look for the small print in any contract. In Goethe's play, Faust wanted knowledge; in the opera he wanted youth. Neither deserved what they got.

[tenorismo]

The final of Faust is what the phrase " Grand Opera" means Elias : )

[ARReith]

I feel like Satan's costume should be a little more over-the-top... some red, perhaps?

[operamusiclover]

Poor Faust.He didn't deserve that final....Dramatic, but very beautiful and touching also. I almost cry when I saw him as old....CONGRATULATIONS!

[jessechene]

Dramatic.  Mezmerizing.