Track Listings (24) - Disc #1| All Artists: Gounod, Journet, Vezzani, Busser, Poc Title: Faust / Complete Opera / 2 Cds Members Wishing: 0 Total Copies: 0 Label: Pearl Release Date: 11/23/1993 Genre: Classical Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Historical Periods, Modern, 20th, & 21st Century Number of Discs: 2 SwapaCD Credits: 2 UPC: 727031998723 |
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Search - Gounod, Journet, Vezzani :: Faust / Complete Opera / 2 Cds
 | Gounod, Journet, Vezzani Faust / Complete Opera / 2 Cds Genre: Classical
Dating from 1930, this is still the best, most idiomatic, recorded Faust. Vezzani, in the title role, has a bigger, bolder sound than we're used to in the part, but it's a thrilling, powerfully thrusted voice. Marcel Jou... more » |
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Amazon.com Dating from 1930, this is still the best, most idiomatic, recorded Faust. Vezzani, in the title role, has a bigger, bolder sound than we're used to in the part, but it's a thrilling, powerfully thrusted voice. Marcel Journet's Mephistopheles is masterful; full of pointed nuance and delivered in a voice miraculously supple for a singer in his 60s. Berthon's Marguerite has been bettered by others on disc, but her peppery lyric soprano is characteristic of French singers of the period. This so-called Frenchness, typified by pointed diction, forward tones, and elegant phrasing, is heard throughout the classic recording. These singers have the style in their blood. Henri-Paul Busser's no-nonsense conducting adds to the pleasures and Pearl's transfers are excellent. --Dan Davis Similar CDs
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CD ReviewsThe most authentic Faust available. F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 02/04/1999 (4 out of 5 stars) "Of course the sound is 1928 mono but this is the only available recording that brings us closest to what Gounod had in mind when he composed this work. His Mephistopheles is supposed to be a suave charmer, not a roaring demon as the Russians and Bulgarians have made him on other recordings. (In fact, he even makes a slip in the first line of his "Calf of Gold Song," showing even the Devil is only human!) The Faust is sung by one of a dying breed: the French spinto tenor; and while the Marguerite may be pushed to her vocal limits in the Prison Scene, "She is Marguerite" as the movie ads say. So despite the technical flaws of this recording (RCA Victor was pretty sloppy back then in the quality of what they released), this is the most authentic Faust available. Note: the only deletion from the original set of 20 78 rpms is the opening music to Act II, which here begins with the mezzo aria directly. The entire ballet music, which could be deleted with little loss, is retained." The best Faust ever recorded F. Behrens | 08/20/1999 (5 out of 5 stars) "This delicious version of Faust is the most complete on records. Authenticity is one of the finest qualities of this typically French opera usually sung by non-French singers with poor diction and diverse styles. It is hard to imagine that such an homogeneous cast could be gathered today. The extraordinary Mephistophele of Marcel Journet has never been surpassed, and the only close comparison in this role is the great Ezio Pinza. This Mephistophele is not only very well sung but also extraordinarily acted. Vezzani's Faust is so personal that it is hard to compare him with other outstanding tenors who have recorded the role (Gedda, Kraus); however, there is no doubt to qualify him at first rank. Mireille Berthon's Margueritte is very good, but she has been surpassed by other sopranos like Victoria de los Angeles. Louis Musy and Marthe Coiffier are very good as Valentin and Siebel. The quality of sound is really good for the time of the recording. If you are a French opera lover, don't miss this gem!"
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