Metropolitan Opera Archives

In the performance of "Faust" given by the Metropolitan Opera last night, there were two newcomers in the cast that has been performing the work this season. Nicolai Ghiaurov made his first appearance of the season as Mephistopheles, and Carlotta Ordassy sang the part of Marthe for the first time with the company. Miss Ordassy was replacing Shirley Love, who was indisposed.

Mr. Ghiarov's portrayal seemed to have lost nothing of last year's vividness. When he was on stage, his was easily the dominant personality. His voice was supple and eloquent, but it may have sounded less formidably large than in the old Met.

Miss Ordassy was appropriately matronly and humorous in the small role of the widow Marthe, Marguerite's companion.

Despite bright moments provided during the evening by Mr. Ghiaurov, Mirella Freni as Marguerite, Sherrill Milnes as Valentin, and Marcia Baldwin as Siebel, the performance was not the best imaginable. Gianni Raimondi was not very interesting as Faust and Georges Prêtre did not always keep the work moving at a pace that made the most of the opera's dramatic potential.

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