[Met Performance] CID:176020



Faust
Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, November 1, 1957

Debut : Nicolai Gedda




Faust (544)
Charles Gounod | Jules Barbier/Michel Carr?
Faust
Nicolai Gedda [Debut]

Marguerite
Hilde G?den

M?phistoph?l?s
Jerome Hines

Valentin
Frank Guarrera

Siebel
Mildred Miller

Marthe
Thelma Votipka

Wagner
Calvin Marsh

Dance
Jean Lee Schoch


Conductor
Jean Morel


Director
Peter Brook

Designer
Rolf G?rard

Choreographer
Zachary Solov

Stage Director
Hans Busch





Faust received sixteen performances this season.

Review 1:

Review of Douglas Watt in the Daily News

'Faust' Time Out for Swedish Tenor at Met

Having survived two big, splendiferous [first] nights - the new "Eugene Onegin" on Monday and then the new "Don Giovanni" on Thursday - the Metropolitan Opera last night settled down to routine with an acceptable, but not particularly spirited, "Faust"

In it Nicolai Gedda, a young tenor born in Stockholm of Swedish-Russian parents, made his local debut in the title role. A slim, personable chap with a very engaging stage presence, young Gedda, revealed a pretty lyric tenor that, while essentially light in substance, was able to carry nicely through the auditorium. Best of all, he obviously enjoys singing a great deal and does so with a pleasant ease, phrasing his material in a personal but entirely musical manner.

Easy on the Ears

The same general comments apply to Hilde Gueden, who sang Marguerite. She, too, affects a caressing vocal line that is entirely suitable to Gounod's flowery and wonderfully tuneful score. Her "Jewel Song" last night had charm.

Frank Guarrera, singing his first Valentin, did fairly well, but was a bit lacking in forcefulness. Jerome Hines, the Mephistopheles, was his usual sonorous self, a commanding figure but not an especially menacing one. Mildred Miller, as Siebel, Thelma Votipka as Marthe and Calvin Marsh as Wagner rounded out the cast.

Jean Morel conducted smoothly.

Photograph of Nicolai Gedda in the title role of Faust by Louis M?lan?on.



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