Gounod: Faust Highlights

Charles Gounod (Artist), NHK Symphony Orchestra (Artist), Paul Ethuin (Artist), Alfredo Kraus (Artist), Renata Scotto (Artist), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Artist), Lorenzo Saccomani (Performer), Milena Dal Piva (Performer), Anna Di Stasio (Performer), Guido Mazzini (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Lorenzo Saccomani, Milena Dal Piva, Anna Di Stasio, Guido Mazzini
• Audio CD (June 6, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Gala
• ASIN: B00000FXLD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,432 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #9 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Scotto, Renata
  • #46 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Featured Performers, A-Z > Q to T

Track Listings

1. Faust, opera: O wonder!

2. Faust, opera: The golden calf

3. Faust, opera: Just as the light breeze

4. Faust, opera: My lovely young lady, will you not allow me

5. Faust, opera: What unknown emotion now fills me?... Hail! chaste and pure dwelling

6. Faust, opera: I should dearly like to know... There once was a king of Thule

7. Faust, opera: O goodness! what a lot of jewels!

8. Faust, opera: Ah! I laugh to see how lovely I look in this mirror

9. Faust, opera: Not a moment too soon!

10. Faust, opera: It is late now... Farewell!

11. Faust, opera: O night of love, radiant sky!

12. Faust, opera: Divine purity!

13. Faust, opera: He loves me! My heart is in a turmoil!

14. Faust, opera: Immortal glory of our ancestors

15. Faust, opera: You who pretend to sleep

16. Faust, opera: Go away!... It is almost daybreak

17. Faust, opera: My heart is overcome with terror

18. Faust, opera: Wait! Here is the street...

19. Faust, opera: Take care, or you are lost!

20. Faust, opera: Marguerite!... Saved!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique Kraus in exceptional Faust, June 22, 2000

By 

Gustavo Demarco (Buenos Aires) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gounod: Faust Highlights (Audio CD)

One of the aspects that made of Alfredo Kraus an exceptional singer was the care with which he chose the roles that resulted most adequate to his voice and temper. Faust was one of these paradigmatic roles, but unfortunatelly he never made a studio recording of this opera. The Tokio live recording of 1973 is thus an exceptional substitute and probably the only chance to enjoy the master's full Faust. By the time of this recording, he was at the highest point of his carreer, and we may appreciate here his precise technique, the delicacy of this style and the adequacy of his voice for the French repertoire. His 'Salut, demeure ... ' is a masterclass of singing. Ghiaurov follows the tradition of the Russian and Bulgarian basses and composes an overacted but vocally splendid Mephistophèles. He was also at the highest point of his carreer. Renata Scotto was an irregular soprano, but her Margheritte is excellent (probably only surpassed on records by Victoria de los Angeles in this role). Ethuin's direction is agile, perhaps too rapid in the choirs. The quality of the sound is good, and the price is astonishingly low. The complete recording of the Tokio version is rare and very difficult to get, so this selection of highlights is an alternative to consider seriously. Given the low price of this CD, it is a must for any opera lover and Kraus fan.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Electric Scotto, September 25, 2002

By 

G. Golding (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gounod: Faust Highlights (Audio CD)

I like much of Scotto's artistry, but this is just not her cup of tea. Her high notes sound like they are plugged into an electric socket! AHHHHH!!!... Even her usual, wonderful word painting is not there. Her Vien's at the end of the garden scene are worse than the most mushy mouthed Sutherland (who could at least produce beautiful sounds). Get the Sony arias disc with Renata Scotto, which, oddly enough, shows her in much better and firmer voice, even though it was recorded later.

Ghiaurov is magnificent, as always and Kraus provides more elegant support than many of his later recordings.
If you want a verismo-like performance, get the recording with Freni (awesome......the largest voiced Margie on record). Domingo is dramatic, beautiful, if without a great high C. The final trio is SO dramatic. Hmmmm, what to buy?