Many music scholars consider Ferruccio Busoni's 1925 Doktor Faust to be among the finest operas of the 20th century, an argument not bolstered by this dismally dull 2006 production from the Zurich Opera. The story is more than a little familiar—that wacky old Faust gets himself into the worst possible bargain imaginable and faces all eternity to rue his bad judgment. However, the well-worn tale receives a surprisingly stagnant retelling here, due in large part to director Klaus Michael Grüber's insistence on staging the proceedings with all of the speed and urgency of a George Romero zombie shuffle. Thomas Hampson as Faust at least tries to compensate for the stolid proceedings by rolling his eyes and frowning in the manner of a Mack Sennett villain, but Gregory Kunde as Mephistopheles maintains a near-motionless visage for too much of his stage time. Coupled with anachronistic costume and production design—Faust is first seen luxuriating in a Chinese-style silk robe and studying a bonsai tree while the students from Krakow arrive in cartoon-ish outfits that would be appropriate for the Joker's henchmen on the campy Batman TV series—Busoni's original composition barely survives, and that is only thanks to a subtle arrangement courtesy of conductor Philippe Jordan, whose baton action offers the only real sign of life here. Presented in DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, and PCM stereo, DVD extras on this double-disc set include interviews with Hampson and Jordan. Not a necessary purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
Doktor Faust
(2006) 2 discs. 172 min. DVD: $45.98. Arthaus Musik (dist. by Naxos of America). Volume 23, Issue 3
Doktor Faust
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