Gounod's Faust - ROH - cinema

[Dave2002]

I'd never seen Gounod's Faust before. Seems totally mad - but then that can be said of quite a lot of opera.

I knew virtually none of it - until I heard this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98k--lB5slI
I think we had it on 78s - was it coupled with Nessun Dorma? As in this Youtube sung by Jussi Bjorling - though the video doesn't really help.

Most of this ROH production was brilliant - I was amazed at the sections with the organ.

The only other recognisable tune was the soldiers march, performed robustly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqYb...ature=youtu.be

Irina Lungu was excellent as Marguerite - http://www.roh.org.uk/people/irina-lungu
as were Michael Fabiano and Erwin Schrott in their respective roles of Faust and Méphistophélès.

Conductor Dan Ettinger held it all together well. Here is a review of the first night in April - though the soprano then was Mandy Fredrich - replacing Irina Lungu who was the intended replacement for Diana Damrau - https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...hrott-fabianao

There will be some repeat showings in the next week - particularly next Sunday 5th May - https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/roh_fa...e_2019/101328/

I expect the musical effect was even greater for some of those who saw it live in the opera house.

[underthecountertenor]

I went last night. I saw the production when it was new, and at least once since. It may be that familiarity has taken the shine off it for me, but the production itself didn't thrill on this revival quite as it had before (it felt a bit like a low-rent rip-off of Les Mis), and the 110 minutes before the interval did seem very long (principally the fault of the composer, I think). However the temperature was raised significantly in the shorter second half, both musically and dramatically.

The principals were excellent (and I found it hard to take my eyes off Schrott even when he was a spectator to the main action, as in the Walpurgisnacht ballet, so compelling was his acting). Degout was luxury casting as Valentin. The scheduled Marguerite was absolutely fine, but Tim Ashley's Guardian review makes me slightly rue the fact that I wasn't there on opening night to catch what appears to have been a notable last-minute stand-in performance.

[Stanfordian]

I went last night. I saw the production when it was new, and at least once since. It may be that familiarity has taken the shine off it for me, but the production itself didn't thrill on this revival quite as it had before (it felt a bit like a low-rent rip-off of Les Mis), and the 110 minutes before the interval did seem very long (principally the fault of the composer, I think). However the temperature was raised significantly in the shorter second half, both musically and dramatically.

The principals were excellent (and I found it hard to take my eyes off Schrott even when he was a spectator to the main action, as in the Walpurgisnacht ballet, so compelling was his acting). Degout was luxury casting as Valentin. The scheduled Marguerite was absolutely fine, but Tim Ashley's Guardian review makes me slightly rue the fact that I wasn't there on opening night to catch what appears to have been a notable last-minute stand-in performance.

My Odeon couldn't produce the English subtitles so we left somewhere after the Song of the Golden Calf. Even though I know the opera Faust quite well but the English subtitles are crucial to me especially in such a long opera.

I agree Schrott is some performer with both great voice and stage presence.

[Dave2002]

My Odeon couldn't produce the English subtitles so we left somewhere after the Song of the Golden Calf. Even though I know the opera Faust quite well but the English subtitles are crucial to me especially in such a long opera.

I agree Schrott is some performer with both great voice and stage presence.

Given the circumstances, shouldn’t the Odeon offer refunds? It’s not as if you were expecting English in a foreign country, is it? Poor show if there isn’t some compensation to be had.

[Stanfordian]

Given the circumstances, shouldn’t the Odeon offer refunds? It’s not as if you were expecting English in a foreign country, is it? Poor show if there isn’t some compensation to be had.

Yes, they offer refunds but I was extremely disappointed the Preston Odeon not getting it right. Subtitles are crucial to me and don't expect anything less. At nearby Blackpool a few weeks ago for the previous opera streaming of 'The Force of Destiny' from ROH they couldn't show the last ten minutes. Many annoyed people and refunds given out once again.

When this sort of thing happens you lose faith that it won't happen again.

[Dave2002]

We’ve not had that kind of problem at commercial cinemas for years, and at amateur showings one can forgive a lot. Commercial cinemas should be able to do better than your experiences on the whole.