Jul 20, 2003 mefistofele is an opera in italian written and composed in 1876 by arrigo boito. A portraiture of helen, queen of troy in boitos mefistofele. Mefistofele is an opera in a prologue, four acts and an epilogue, the only completed opera with. Movementssectionsmovtssecs, 4 or 5 acts, with prologue. This 1989 production by the san francisco opera of boitos great opera mefistofele is an excellent one, and the opera is given absolutely complete. Arrigo boito was an author and poet of the nineteenth century known for his literary works, which included the librettos to verdis otello and falstaff. Mefistofele is one of a clutch of operas still routinely disdained by critics and cognoscenti. The following 1 pages are in this category, out of 1 total. In boitos case mefistofele whisks faust off to the temptations of troy and helen. Boito made further modifications before its next performance in venice on may, 1876. 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. He is secure and commanding vocally and portrays an intriguing and multifaceted character. By 1966, ghiaurov had sung boitos devil in milan, chicago and at carnegie hall and was the leading interpreter of mefistofele in the world.
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. Boitos score is full of attractive music and several strong dramatic characterizations. Arrigo boito of the faust story bob jones university. Samuel ramey is ideal in the role of mephistopheles. The performance of november 30th is sponsored by delta air lines the performance of december 3rd is designated in memory of charles e. Mefistofele by arrigo boito, tullio serafin, rome santa cecilia academy chorus, rome santa cecilia academy orchestra, cesare siepi, mario del. The libretto is based on goethes faust and is divided into. Media in category mefistofele boito the following 26 files are in this category, out of 26 total. Ave, signor from prologue of the italian opera, mefistofele by arrigo boito libretto. Mefistofele basso faust tenore margherita soprano marta mezzosoprano elena soprano pantalis mezzosoprano nereo tenore prologo in cielo. First, let me state in the interest of full disclosure, that boito s mefistofele is one of my favorite operas. 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. This performance is being broadcast live on metropolitan.
This production of mefistofele is roland schwabs debut at the munich opera house, and he made full use of germanys largest stage by filling it with infernal special effects. 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. 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. 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. It says a lot for boito, who was verdis librettist for otello and falstaff, that in mefistofele he seems to be trying to write for the voice in a distinctive way, not merely aping verdi, and certainly not heading wagnerwards either. Nerone boito, arrigo collections 1 collections by or with. 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. Noble to recognize his generous bequest to san francisco opera. 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. 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. Boito, arrigo arrigo boito 24 february 1842 10 june 1918. The libretto, extensive and bulky, was published several weeks before the premiere and contained a. Mefistofele, opera in prologue, 4 details allmusic. 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.
Boitos mefistofele, which appeared less than a decade after gounods faust, centers around the struggle between mefistofele and faust for fausts soul. 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 was also a composer, and initially one of the few admirers of richard wagner on the italian operatic scene. Mefistofele is on the whole a remarkable first opera, but it doesnt show the consistent assurance of a professional composer. 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. Mefistofele full opera score the score is introduced with a scholarly preface english and german and the preface is available online for inspection. The skeletal tunnel in the background created an imposing frame for an extravagant staging. Piano, vocal sheet music book by arrigo enrico boito 18421918. All this is made possible by a worldwide network of musicians, musicologists and musicloving amateurs who contribute to the series in many different ways. I do agree with those who think this opera is a less than ideal masterpiece. Boito began consideration of an opera on the faustian theme after completing his. Arrigo boito retells the story of the original, faustian bargain from the devils point of view in the colorful drama mefistofele. Libretto of mefistofele libretto of mefistofele by arrigo boito, 9781169491472, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Inspired by the faust legend, arrigo boito s mefistofele is an imaginative work which is also faithful to goethes original conception.
His only completed opera, mefistofele, based on goethes faust, was given its first performance on 5 march. Mefistofele basso faust tenore margherita soprano marta mezzosoprano elena soprano pantalis mezzosoprano nereo. Disappointingly, this pushed arrigo boitos actual opera very much into the background. Boitos faust does not conjure to instigate the demons appearance as in other versions of the legendary plot.
Some consider it a semimasterpiece, but it is definitely the masterpiece among the few operas that boito composed. 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. Ramey, who has sung the role in over 100 performances, sang it first at bob jones university in 1976. Het duivelse mefistofele is een overweldigende opera met groot orkest en grote koren. It is characterized by its rich orchestral sounds, beautifully punctuated with lyrical passages and choral interludes. Arrigo boito, mefistofele prologo in cielo youtube. Apr 15, 2012 mefistofele is an opera in a prologue, four acts and an epilogue, the only completed opera by the italian composerlibrettist arrigo boito. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Arrigo boito 18421918 poet, composer, music theorist continued from front page stage on october 4, 1875, in bologna. 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. 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 mefistofele fabriitis 2006 written by bluesever wednesday, 21 october 2009 19.
Goethes faust and in boitos mefistofele, while the aesthetics of conflicts between. 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. Mefistofele by arrigo enrico boito 18421918 vocal score. Mefistofele prologue ave, signor degli angeli e dei santi. His mefistofele is much closer in spirit and letter to the original source than gounods french version of a decade or so earlier. Arrigo boito, verdis greatest librettist, was also a noted composer, best known for his italian operatic treatment of goethes tragedy faust. It did not come to my mind that this particular weekend. Roland schwabs bayerische staatsoper productionhis debut at that theater, recorded in 2015sets the entire opera in a dark netherworld, neither here nor there, with heaven and earth occupying the same bare, stygian space.
Based on goethes faust and the eternal struggle between good and evil, mefistofele is the pinnacle of boitos compositional achievement and has. Boito s other libretti and his own compositions are but infrequently performed. Mefistofele is an opera in italian written and composed in 1876 by arrigo boito. Publication date 1989 topics vhs, opera, faust, san francisco opera publisher kultur international films digitizing sponsor internet archive.
Along with emilio praga, he is regarded as one of the prominent representatives of the scapigliatura artistic movement. Mefistofele is an opera in a prologue, four acts and an epilogue, the only completed opera by the italian composerlibrettist arrigo boito. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Boito, a mefistofele furlanetto, filianoti, theodossiou. For correct diacritical marks in gabriela benackovas name, please consult the program book. Mefistofele by arrigo boito, julius rudel, ambrosian opera chorus, wandsworth school boys choir, norman treigle, placido domingo, montserrat. The performance of december 6th is designated in honor of mr.
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