The new MET Faust

[whipped guy]

Has anyone seen the new production of Gounod's Faust at the MET either in the theater or via the HD broadcast? I listened to Saturdays radio transmission and enjoyed it quite a bit. It had been a long time since I had listened to the piece and was reminded of how many good tunes are scattered throughout the work. Is there anything more catchy or exciting than that final trio? Pape as Mephistopheles and Kaufmann as Faust sounded on top of their game... and Poplavaskaya as Marguerite was decent as well if not quite as plush of voice compared to the very best. But what of the production itself??? White lab coats and a modernistic laboratory setting were mentioned in the commentary... not something that I would necessarily associate with a traditional Faust! Ugh! I just checked out the stage designs in Opera News... does it all really work?!

[uwsman2]

I'm seeing it next Saturday night and will let you know. This is the gay-boy conductors' show. Yannick Nezet-Seguin is conducting most of the run, but Pierre Vallet is conducting on the 17th.

[+ WilliamM]

I'm seeing "Faust" on Dec. 20 with Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducting, so we can compare notes. I have to think that the Met is disappointed in Jonus Kaufmann's review (Times. New Yorker). Hasn't the Met almost declared Kaufmann the next big male opera star...of course, the Met is not alone in that opinion.