(Photos: Lisa Tomasetti) Gounod is one of the core composers of the French repertory. Born on June 17, 1818, two of his operas remain major staples of the repertory. But Gounod composed more than just “Faust” and “Roméo et Juliette.” How well do you know that repertory? This quiz will test your knowledge of Gounod’s entire operatic output.
The Royal Opera will make a return to Japan during the 2019-20 season. The company will perform two classic works of the standard repertory including Verdi’s “Otello” and Gounod’s “Faust.” Antonio Pappano will conduct all of the performances. “Faust” will open on tour on Sept. 12, 2019 and will feature tenor Vittorio Grigòlo in the title role. He will be {…}
On April 30, 2019, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden will showcase its revival of “Faust” in cinemas.” The production, which was originally directed by David McVicar, stars Michael Fabiano in the title role. Irina Lungu is his beloved Marguerite, while Erwin Schrott is Méphistophélès. Other cast members include Stéphane Degout, Marta Fontanais-Simmons, and Carole Wilson, among others. Dan Ettinger {…}
A Gothic fairy tale, the “Faust”s of Goethe and Gounod are both ahead of their time as morality plays – duplicitously tempting their readers and spectators with the very hedonism they purport to chastise. At the end of Act three, Méphistophélès crassly laughs over the end of Faust and Marguerite’s tender duet. The contrast between bewitching, shimmering violins exuding ripening {…}
Irina Lungu canceled opening night of Gounod’s “Faust” at the Royal Opera House. The soprano announced via social media that due to influenza she was unable to sing. Lungu stated, “Unfortunately I had to cancel my appearance at today’s premiere of Faust at the Royal Opera House due to an influenza with high fever. It was a hard decision and {…}
Diana Damrau has canceled all performances of Gounod’s “Faust.” The Royal Opera House has announced that due to a slipped disc Damrau has had to withdraw from singing the role of Marguerite on April 11, 15, 18, 25, and 30. As a result, Russian soprano Irina Lungu, who is scheduled to sing Marguerite on May 3 and 6 May, will takeover all performances. Lungu made {…}
The Royal Opera House has revealed the dates that audiences in the U.S. can catch some of their recent filmed performances. The company’s recent “The Queen of Spades” is set to hit major markets on March 12, 2019, while “La Traviata” will start appearing on March 19, 2019. “La Traviata” was a major success, featuring soprano Ermonela Jaho in a {…}
Teatro Real decided to open the 2018-19 season with Gounod’s “Faust,” an opera which have been staged only once in 2003 since the theatre reopened in 1997. The expectations were high, with a strong cast lead by the international star tenor Piotr Beczala and accompanied by Marina Rebeka and Luca Pisaroni; the young conductor Ed Ettinger was in charge of {…}
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, born on August 28, 1749, is one of the great German writers in history. Unsurprisingly, his literary prowess has inspired a wide range of operatic works, many of which are staples of the canon. Here is a survey of operas based on the works of Goethe. Faust Goethe’s masterwork is undeniably the source of many operas. {…}
Much is said these days about Plácido Domingo’s expansive repertoire, but before him, Nicolai Gedda was arguably the man to tackle the most works in recent opera history. So vast was his repertoire that the Swedish tenor, born on July 11, 1925, performed operas in Italian, French, English, Czech, Swedish, Russian, German, and even Latin. He left behind over 200 {…}
Opera is home to some of humanity’s most infamous villains: manipulative characters who lie, cheat, and steal, pillage and murder, and generally ruin the loves of the innocent, unsuspecting heroes and heroines that we all know and love. But conflict and tension form the bones of most great art, and opera would not be opera without the Iagos, Scarpias, and {…}
