christabel_daae (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
christabel_daae) wrote2008-06-27 11:26 pm
christabel_daae) wrote2008-06-27 11:26 pm
Again on 'Faust'
To begin with, I'd love to say that Gounod's opera 'Faust' holds a special place in my heart.
The topic appeals to me in several ways: the story Faust himself, a doctor 'of many arts', or a physician and a scientist at once - such a man to gain 'perennial' youth on particular grounds; the story of Gretchen's seduction (I love tales of seduction, probably I'm a bit perverted?)... This drama - no, I'd better say, even this opera - is often referenced in diverse works of art. Take my favourite 'Phantom of the Opera': this opera is often performed during the crucial events of the book: it is in the middle of the duet 'Il se fait tard, adieu! - Oh nuit d'amour, ciel radieux' that Carlotta utters sounds of a toad. And it is just after the prison scene that Christine is captured by Erik. Even in my favourite movie version of this plot - the 1990 (or 1991, I can't remember now) movie shows us poisoned Christine unable to say "Non, monsieur, je ne suis demoiselle ni belle - et je n'ai pas besoin qu'on me donne la main". And there in the final prison scene the Phantom comes to the hall to join her 'Oui, ce moi, je t'aime' et suite. That turned into kind of a competition between him and the cast tenor, each one trying with as much passion and power as he could to persuade the heroine to escape with him;))
So... what was I up to?.. Ah, yeah, Gounod's opera. It is known that 'Faust' was the favourite opera of Mikhail Bulgakov, our great writer. I get so much pleasure in the similarities of me and 'The Master'. His childhood and youth was spent in Kyiv, as well as mine; he studied at the most respectable gymnasium of the city - I guess my beloved 'English Language School No 155' is the nearest possible match to this in contemporary Kyiv. And he graduated from that very university I am now studying!
I decided to create more coincidences;) Bulgakov's family had several vocal scores at home, and they often played them (playing the piano, surely). I obtained the score of 'Faust' in the net and am playing it (and singing along, to my family's grief) from time to time for two years already. Bulgakov saw 'Faust' at the opera over forty times. Well, my personal record is five. But I've listened to various recordings much more times:)))
So, after all written above I guess no one will be surprised that I know the libretto almost completely by heart and these airs are among the songs I often burst into.
After such a long introduction I am going to write a brief account on our visit to the opera on the 15th of June. So: that was great! Fabulous! Fantastic! Girls - Eugenia (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
soldaja), Alyona, Tanya, thank you for your wonderful company. We'll have to procure a box for all of us on all occasions following.
During the performance thanks to Tanya's wonderful camera we managed (or, Tanya and Eugenia managed) to make good photos.soldaja has already posted them in her gallery; still I am reposting them here with English tags. I should say that the production is very avant-garde. I've written a detailed review on it here - however, that's in Russian.
Some takes of the hall
I think in our opera the Phantom would hardly manage the chandelier...
First act, Kermesse. From left to right: some 'alcoholic' from the choir, Mephistopheles, Valentin, Siebel
Faust's first meeting with Marguerite - this "Non, monsieur, je ne suis demoiselle ni belle"
Second act. Taking place in Marguerite's garden. Featuring (on pictures): herself, Mephistopheles and his servants, Martha, Faust
Third act. Church scene. In our production, Marguerite is pardonned already here.
Mephistopheles produces a rapier from his cane
And, as a result, Valentin is stabbed to death. On this picture, apart from Siebel, one can see our variation on the topic 'Diener des Todes';))
And finally - the ballet, La nuit de Walpurgis. Unfortunately the photos don't show that, but, believe me, the movements was on verge - no, beyond the verge! - of NC-17
P.S. To whom it may concern: I am leaving for my datcha next morning almost at sunrise and so won't return to 'real life' before Monday.
The topic appeals to me in several ways: the story Faust himself, a doctor 'of many arts', or a physician and a scientist at once - such a man to gain 'perennial' youth on particular grounds; the story of Gretchen's seduction (I love tales of seduction, probably I'm a bit perverted?)... This drama - no, I'd better say, even this opera - is often referenced in diverse works of art. Take my favourite 'Phantom of the Opera': this opera is often performed during the crucial events of the book: it is in the middle of the duet 'Il se fait tard, adieu! - Oh nuit d'amour, ciel radieux' that Carlotta utters sounds of a toad. And it is just after the prison scene that Christine is captured by Erik. Even in my favourite movie version of this plot - the 1990 (or 1991, I can't remember now) movie shows us poisoned Christine unable to say "Non, monsieur, je ne suis demoiselle ni belle - et je n'ai pas besoin qu'on me donne la main". And there in the final prison scene the Phantom comes to the hall to join her 'Oui, ce moi, je t'aime' et suite. That turned into kind of a competition between him and the cast tenor, each one trying with as much passion and power as he could to persuade the heroine to escape with him;))
So... what was I up to?.. Ah, yeah, Gounod's opera. It is known that 'Faust' was the favourite opera of Mikhail Bulgakov, our great writer. I get so much pleasure in the similarities of me and 'The Master'. His childhood and youth was spent in Kyiv, as well as mine; he studied at the most respectable gymnasium of the city - I guess my beloved 'English Language School No 155' is the nearest possible match to this in contemporary Kyiv. And he graduated from that very university I am now studying!
I decided to create more coincidences;) Bulgakov's family had several vocal scores at home, and they often played them (playing the piano, surely). I obtained the score of 'Faust' in the net and am playing it (and singing along, to my family's grief) from time to time for two years already. Bulgakov saw 'Faust' at the opera over forty times. Well, my personal record is five. But I've listened to various recordings much more times:)))
So, after all written above I guess no one will be surprised that I know the libretto almost completely by heart and these airs are among the songs I often burst into.
After such a long introduction I am going to write a brief account on our visit to the opera on the 15th of June. So: that was great! Fabulous! Fantastic! Girls - Eugenia (
soldaja), Alyona, Tanya, thank you for your wonderful company. We'll have to procure a box for all of us on all occasions following.During the performance thanks to Tanya's wonderful camera we managed (or, Tanya and Eugenia managed) to make good photos.
soldaja has already posted them in her gallery; still I am reposting them here with English tags. I should say that the production is very avant-garde. I've written a detailed review on it here - however, that's in Russian.Some takes of the hall
I think in our opera the Phantom would hardly manage the chandelier...
First act, Kermesse. From left to right: some 'alcoholic' from the choir, Mephistopheles, Valentin, Siebel
Faust's first meeting with Marguerite - this "Non, monsieur, je ne suis demoiselle ni belle"
Second act. Taking place in Marguerite's garden. Featuring (on pictures): herself, Mephistopheles and his servants, Martha, Faust
Third act. Church scene. In our production, Marguerite is pardonned already here.
Mephistopheles produces a rapier from his cane
And, as a result, Valentin is stabbed to death. On this picture, apart from Siebel, one can see our variation on the topic 'Diener des Todes';))
And finally - the ballet, La nuit de Walpurgis. Unfortunately the photos don't show that, but, believe me, the movements was on verge - no, beyond the verge! - of NC-17
P.S. To whom it may concern: I am leaving for my datcha next morning almost at sunrise and so won't return to 'real life' before Monday.
no subject