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Faust
Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, November 1, 1957
Debut : Nicolai Gedda
Faust (544)
Charles Gounod | Jules Barbier/Michel Carré
- Faust
- Nicolai Gedda [Debut]
- Marguerite
- Hilde Güden
- Méphistophélès
- 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 Gérard
- 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 Mélançon.
Search by season: 1957-58
Search by title: Faust,
Met careers
- Jean Morel [Conductor]
- Nicolai Gedda [Faust]
- Hilde Güden [Marguerite]
- Jerome Hines [Méphistophélès]
- Frank Guarrera [Valentin]
- Mildred Miller [Siebel]
- Thelma Votipka [Marthe]
- Calvin Marsh [Wagner]
- Jean Lee Schoch [Dance]
- Peter Brook [Director]
- Rolf Gérard [Designer]
- Zachary Solov [Choreographer]
- Hans Busch [Stage Director]
