potro' quando mi arrivera' !!!!!!!

Faust used to be sung in Italian a lot (it was at the opening of the Met in 1883). It becomes rather a different opera, more red-blooded and passionate. The three leads here sing up a storm. Kraus gives us a smoldering Faust with a great top C in "Salve, dimora". His voice was never the most beautiful, but the way he phrases and molds the lines is memorable in and of itself. Freni sings beautifully with an excellent trill in the Jewel Song. She also contributes a harrowing Church Scene aided by the young Raimondi's glowering Mephisto. Raimondi's devil is almost violent in his dealings with the humans in this opera; his voice is already a fine one. The supporting cast is good as are the orchestra and chorus. Belardinelli's conducting is amateurish and slow to the point of distraction in some parts. The traditional cuts are made, but a good portion of the ballet music is retained though whether the Walpurgis Nacht scene was actually performed I don't know: we only get the orchestra's contribution and the sound of feet dancing. Strange.The sound is from a mono broadcast and is very listenable, the voices heard clearly heard over the orchestra.Maybe not a Faust for the record books, but one where the three leads really deliver.

After downloading and listening this Faust I can just say – wonderfulBest regards from MunichGisela Nemecek