Thomas Hampson in by Ferruccio Busoni

Unitel and Classica present

Thomas Hampson in

by Ferruccio Busoni Faust erruccio Busoni (1866–1924) was a man of many contradictions: an Italian who considered himself FGerman; a supremely virtuoso pianist who preferred to compose; an eloquent theorist and intellectual who produced highly emotional music – such as the opera “Doktor Faust.” In fact, he seemed predestined to write an opera on the contradictory and complex figure of Faust. Like Goethe’s hero, Busoni’s is also an eternal seeker; but he is also a magician who conjures up various biblical figures to seduce a duchess on her wedding day; and a man besotted with beauty, who wants to possess it in the form of Helen of Troy. The opera unfolds a panorama of murder, tragedy, defeat and, ultimately, redemption in the form of a young man, Faust’s sole positive legacy.

Music by Ferruccio Busoni For Philippe Jordan, the conductor of this production from the Opernhaus Zürich, “Doktor Faust” is one of the greatest Conductor Philippe Jordan operas of the 20th century, ranking alongside “Wozzeck” and Orchestra Orchester der Oper Zürich “Lulu,” and resplendent with lush, late-romantic harmonies and Chorus Chor der Oper Zürich motivically derived melodies reminiscent of Wagner, Verdi and Chorus Master Jürg Hämmerli even Mahler. Director Klaus Michael Grüber has produced a staging that “emphasizes the sensuality and operatic quality Doktor Faust Thomas Hampson of the work” (Neue Zürcher Zeitung). Wagner/Master of ceremonies Günther Groissböck Mephistopheles Gregory Kunde Adding the final touch to the sensuality of Busoni’s music, Duke of Parma/Soldier Reinaldo Macias Jordan’s expressive control of the complex score and Grüber’s Duchess of Parma Sandra Trattnigg stage magic is Thomas Hampson in the lead role. The baritone, A Lieutenant Martin Zysset an unforgettable Don Giovanni (also in the Salzburg Festival Staged by Klaus Michael Grüber “Mozart22” recording by UNITEL CLASSICA), reprises a role he performed in Salzburg in 1999 and at the Met in Directed by Felix Breisach 2001. “His powerful, virile timbre, the natural authority of Length 170' his appearance, his vocal culture trained in Lied singing – they all coalesce to from a great, fascinating stage figure out of the contradictory components of Faust’s personality” Recorded at Opernhaus Zürich (Neue Zürcher Zeitung). No less a commanding figure is tenor A production of UNITEL CLASSICA Gregory Kunde’s Mephistopheles, Faust’s companion who, and Opernhaus Zürich in Thomas Hampson’s words, is “less diabolical” than other Mephistos, and represents Faust’s dark side – the negative Design: luebbeke.com shot in HDTV 1080 pole that is humankind’s eternal burden. Cat. no. A95000918

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