[Met Performance] CID:45770



Faust
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, December 25, 1909 Matinee





Faust (268)
Charles Gounod | Jules Barbier/Michel Carré
Faust
Enrico Caruso

Marguerite
Geraldine Farrar

Méphistophélès
Adamo Didur

Valentin
Dinh Gilly

Siebel
Rita Fornia

Marthe
Matja von Niessen-Stone

Wagner
Paolo Ananian


Conductor
Vittorio Podesti


Director
Jules Speck

Set Designer
Kautsky & Rottonara Brothers

Costume Designer
Blaschke & Cie





Faust received ten performances this season.

Review 1:

Review in The New York Times

'FAUST' AT THE METROPOLITAN

Caruso Shows Improvement in His Singing of the Title Role

The reflection that times are not what they used to be was again forced upon the observer of musical doings in this town yesterday when "Faust" was brought forward at the matinée performance at the Metropolitan Opera House for the first time this season. Time was when Gounod's masterwork opened opera seasons and for many years scarcely a week intervened between performances of the opera, once the season was under way.

The production yesterday did not differ in any marked respects from previous recent presentations of the work of the work at this theatre. Mr. Podesti, the conductor, was new and Dinh Gilly sang Valentin here for the first time. Toward Mr. Podesti's contribution to the afternoon entertainment it were best to maintain a discreet silence, but Mr. Gilly again proved that he is a singer of worth,

When Mr. Caruso sang the title rôle of this opera some seasons ago for the first time here he was not too much at home in it. Neither the French language, nor the demands of French music, seemed to be in the scope of his talent. It may be said, however, that this tenor steadily improved in the part. He now sings it with continence of tone and a considerable degree of finish. He has seldom been so successful in the "Salut Demeure" air as he was yesterday.

Miss Farrar's Marguerite, too, is well known here, at least as well known as a constantly shifting characterization of a part can become known. When it was first disclosed several features of her performance met with distinct disapproval, and she has since seen fit to eliminate these. She did some very good singing yesterday during the course of the garden scene, barring a tendency to slip a half tone up the pitch occasionally.

Miss Fornia was more than satisfactory as Siebel, and Mine. Nieseen-Stone was effective in the small part of Marthe. Mr. Didur's Mephistophles is too well known here to call for discussion at this time. It is lacking in some of the details that make up great characterizations, but it is generally praiseworthy.



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