MEFISTOFELE

MEFISTOFELE:Boito
Original Air Date: 02/19/2000
Elder; Ramey, Villarroel, Margison
MOD Audio SID.19250427
So far this is the only Met broadcast of Mefistofele, as its 1925 previous Met performance precedes the Met matinee series, and Bing had mostly ceded the work to NYCO first with Treigle, and later with Ramey. Here is Ramey at close to his twilight from the Met in a very solid performance, and a good delivery from the Met chorus. Margison and Villaroel are OK, but much better tenor casting was certainly available during the Bing years. Ramey was still in good voice for this broadcast, but this Robert Carsen production which had been practically everywhere (I saw it in SF as well as NYC) could not attract the great tenors of the day to Faust. A pity. I saw Kraus in Philadelphia, and Bergonzi has distinguished performances as well. Margerita deserves better than Villaroel as well. Time for the Met to revive again with or without the Carsen production. Lots of good casting around for this. even if no one at Ghiaurov/ Siepi vocal accomplishment for the title role. These days, the basso ranks are even more depleted than 13 years ago, but lots of interesting tenors and sopranos for these two roles. Calleja would be my first choice for Faust, but there are others who could do fine work, including Fabiano. Radvanovsky would be a most interesting combo Margerita/Helen and the Met chorus is several cuts above their work a dozen years ago. I’m not wild about the Carsen production (there are worse), but a rumored revival seems to have disappeared. Mefistofele is not represented in MOoD and should be available there, starting with capturing prime Ramey