This performance is being broadcast live on metropolitan. Libretto of mefistofele libretto of mefistofele by arrigo boito, 9781169491472, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Arrigo boito, mefistofele prologo in cielo youtube. This production of mefistofele is a coproduction with the grand theatre ge geneve and is coowned by the san francisco opera and the lyric opera of chicago. Arrigo boito was an italian poet, journalist, novelist, librettist and composer, best known today for his libretti, especially those for giuseppe verdis operas otello and falstaff, and his own opera mefistofele. Falstaff and otello, was mostly driven by weekend performance date to fit the work schedule.
I do agree with those who think this opera is a less than ideal masterpiece. My plan coming to munich to see mefistofele by previously undiscoved composer arrigo boito, whom i have known as librettist for last operas of verdi. Arrigo boito, verdis greatest librettist, was also a noted composer, best known for his italian operatic treatment of goethes tragedy faust. Boito began consideration of an opera on the faustian theme after completing his. Leslie fyson arrigo boito composer wandsworth school boys choir montserrat caballe delia wallis ambrosian opera chorus norman treigle heather begg placido domingo thomas allen julius rudel josella ligi london symphony orchestra. The performance of december 6th is designated in honor of mr. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mefistofele by arrigo enrico boito 18421918 vocal score. Arrigo boito of the faust story bob jones university. In boitos case mefistofele whisks faust off to the temptations of troy and helen. I think that if i were called upon to select a particular case that would best illustrate the basic injustice of artistic life i would decide on that of arrigo boito, who wrote mefistofele.
Piano, vocal sheet music book by arrigo enrico boito 18421918. Along with emilio praga, he is regarded as one of the prominent representatives of the scapigliatura artistic movement. Mefistofele prologue ave, signor degli angeli e dei santi. Mefistofele full opera score the score is introduced with a scholarly preface english and german and the preface is available online for inspection. Jul 20, 2003 mefistofele is an opera in italian written and composed in 1876 by arrigo boito. All this is made possible by a worldwide network of musicians, musicologists and musicloving amateurs who contribute to the series in many different ways.
The skeletal tunnel in the background created an imposing frame for an extravagant staging. Mefistofele by arrigo boito, julius rudel, ambrosian opera chorus, wandsworth school boys choir, norman treigle, placido domingo, montserrat. Boitos faust does not conjure to instigate the demons appearance as in other versions of the legendary plot. Goethes faust and in boitos mefistofele, while the aesthetics of conflicts between. Inspired by the faust legend, arrigo boito s mefistofele is an imaginative work which is also faithful to goethes original conception. Arrigo boito 18421918 poet, composer, music theorist continued from front page stage on october 4, 1875, in bologna. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. He was also a composer, and initially one of the few admirers of richard wagner on the italian operatic scene. Doubtless, decca presented ghiaurov in a highlights disc because the label didnt wish to compete with its extant 1958 complete set of the opera, starring cesare siepi under tullio serafins baton. Ramey, who has sung the role in over 100 performances, sang it first at bob jones university in 1976. Nerone boito, arrigo collections 1 collections by or with. Samuel ramey, mefistofele by arrigo boito libretto by the composer after goethes faust march 2006 these study materials are produced for use with the bob jones university opera association production. Based on goethes faust and the eternal struggle between good and evil, mefistofele is the pinnacle of boitos compositional achievement and has.
Mefistofele, an album by arrigo boito, tullio serafin, orchestra dellaccademia nazionale di santa cecilia on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. He is secure and commanding vocally and portrays an intriguing and multifaceted character. Mefistofele is on the whole a remarkable first opera, but it doesnt show the consistent assurance of a professional composer. The libretto, extensive and bulky, was published several weeks before the premiere and contained a. Boitos mefistofele, which appeared less than a decade after gounods faust, centers around the struggle between mefistofele and faust for fausts soul. For correct diacritical marks in gabriela benackovas name, please consult the program book. Boito s mefistofele, although lesser in stature than berliozs damnation of faust and less popular than gounods version of the tale, is probably the most faithful to the original conception of goethes poetics. Mefistofele is an opera in italian written and composed in 1876 by arrigo boito. Disappointingly, this pushed arrigo boitos actual opera very much into the background. It is a resigned, often cynical devil who arrigo boito also known for being the librettist for verdis later masterpieces otello and falstaff distilled from goethes twopart faust tragedy and turned into the protagonist of his only finished opera. The first public performance took place in venice on may, th 1876.
One wonders what boito might have accomplished if he had gotten on with his life and honed his craft with a number of forays into operatic composition rather than spending almost 40 years dithering over nerone, which he. Arrigo boito mefistofele fabriitis 2006 written by bluesever wednesday, 21 october 2009 19. Boito, a mefistofele furlanetto, filianoti, theodossiou. Arrigo boito retells the story of the original, faustian bargain from the devils point of view in the colorful drama mefistofele.
I find it very ironic that when presented with the criticisms levelled at gounods operatic treatment of the story to the effect that it didnt tell the whole of goethes story, boito set about doing precisely tell the whole of the story. The production is from belgiums royal opera of wallonie. Samuel ramey is ideal in the role of mephistopheles. Boito s other libretti and his own compositions are but infrequently performed. There has been no lack of recordings of mefistofele, but the participation of three of the leading singers of the midtwentieth century, baritone cesare siepi, tenor mario del monaco, and soprano renata tebaldi, make this reissue of deccas 1958 recording a welcome addition to the catalog. Mefistofele speaks to god and offers to wager that he can win the soul of doctor faust, a respected philosopher, by enticing him to sin. His mefistofele is much closer in spirit and letter to the original source than gounods french version of a decade or so earlier.
It is characterized by its rich orchestral sounds, beautifully punctuated with lyrical passages and choral interludes. Boitos score is full of attractive music and several strong dramatic characterizations. Movementssectionsmovtssecs, 4 or 5 acts, with prologue. Mefistofele by arrigo boito, tullio serafin, rome santa cecilia academy chorus, rome santa cecilia academy orchestra, cesare siepi, mario del. His only completed opera, mefistofele, based on goethes faust, was given its first performance on 5 march. Mefistofele is an opera in a prologue, four acts and an epilogue, the only completed opera with. First, let me state in the interest of full disclosure, that boito s mefistofele is one of my favorite operas. Mefistofele basso faust tenore margherita soprano marta mezzosoprano elena soprano pantalis mezzosoprano nereo tenore prologo in cielo. The lord of creation has plummeted into the darkest depths and is now so weak that i lack the desire to incite him to do evil. Ave, signor from prologue of the italian opera, mefistofele by arrigo boito libretto. A portraiture of helen, queen of troy in boitos mefistofele. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Based on goethes faust and the eternal struggle between good and evil, mefistofele is the pinnacle of boitos compositional achievement and has retained a place in the operatic repertoire.
Mefistofele basso faust tenore margherita soprano marta mezzosoprano elena soprano pantalis mezzosoprano nereo. The following 1 pages are in this category, out of 1 total. Het duivelse mefistofele is een overweldigende opera met groot orkest en grote koren. Noble to recognize his generous bequest to san francisco opera. Some consider it a semimasterpiece, but it is definitely the masterpiece among the few operas that boito composed. Boito made further modifications before its next performance in venice on may, 1876. Boito, arrigo arrigo boito 24 february 1842 10 june 1918. Boito, a mefistofele furlanetto, filianoti, theodossiou, palermo teatro massimo, ranzani gifted as both a writer and a musician, arrigo boito wrote the libretto to his own opera mefistofele. By 1966, ghiaurov had sung boitos devil in milan, chicago and at carnegie hall and was the leading interpreter of mefistofele in the world. Mefistofele is an opera in a prologue, four acts and an epilogue, the only completed opera by the italian composerlibrettist arrigo boito. This 1989 production by the san francisco opera of boitos great opera mefistofele is an excellent one, and the opera is given absolutely complete. Media in category mefistofele boito the following 26 files are in this category, out of 26 total.
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