Upscaled MEFISTOFELE Benackova, Ramey, O'Neill - Arena - San Francisco IX89

Thanks to Upscaling with Topaz AI, now in brilliant quality, superior to the old DVD release
MEFISTOFELE
Opera in un prologo, quattro atti e un epilogo di Arrigo Boito.
Libretto di Arrigo Boito.
Mefistofele: Samuel Ramey
Faust: Dennis O'Neill
Margherita: Gabriela Benacková-Cáp
Marta: Judith Christin
Wagner: Daniel Harper
Elena: Gabriela Benacková-Cáp
Pantalis: Emily Manhart
Nereo: Douglas Wunsch
San Francisco Opera Opera Chorus and Orchestra
Maurizio Arena
Stage director: Robert Carsen
San Francisco, War Memorial Opera House, September 1989

[@mickeymortimer4407]

as good as it gets, Ramey's face was amazing too, for it's expressive qualities - built for the stage, he was. He's a hero of mine, to be sure

[@elsatranter2940]

what an amazing performance. Saw it live in SF and loved it then. Now even better seeing the close-ups right before me. Recovering from broken hip so can't go anywhere; grateful for pleasures like this.

[@ellenbacklin]

Also recovering from knee replacement surgery so nice to see this again.

[@thomasshanklin9655]

Sam gives me the chills and this music every time. I saw him THREE times in this role at NY City Opera. STUNNING.. and Joseph Colinari was the chorus conductor. Sang with him and the Overture at Berkshire chorale many years ago.

[@peterdevita6308]

All Principals are so incredible: Ramey was the Mefistofele of his age, no matter which Mefisto he sang in whatever major opera of the Faust legend.

[@wotan10950]

Fantastic! I saw Ramey as Mefistofele in the old Capobianco production at NYCOpera w Johanna Meier in both soprano roles. One of my top-10 operatic experiences (of 300+ live performances). I saw Benackova in a Czech opera at the Met, an unforgettable artist.

[@giulianataramella1192]

Meraviglioso Ramey!

[@mirjamdevries9376]

Monumentale , immenso Ramey in questo ruolo, sia per la voce che per la presenza scenica! 👿🎵💎

[@anastasromansky8626]

Davvero qualcosa di soprannaturale. Come se il Diavolo in persona decidesse di entrare nel palcoscenico dell'opera! ❤‍🔥

[@mirjamdevries9376]

@@anastasromansky8626 Già, è vero!!

[@glendadafonseca8284]

Marvelous tenor. Thrilling sound. Hadn't heard of him before. And, yes, magnificent Ramey. After hearing him as Mephistopheles---in the operas of Gounod, Berlioz, and this one, every other singer seems disappointing.

[@develyntwocentshenderson5739]

many many years ago I went to lincoln center to see this work. the immortal norman triegle (he was famous for this role as well) was set to perform and of all the problems he came down with appendicitis and his understudy, Michael Devlin stepped in and 'on with the show'. Michael totally nailed the performance, so much so the New York Times wrote him up in an article the next day. It is rare that ones sees a breakout performance like this. Much like Leonard Bernstein filling in for the ailing conductor when he was introduced to the world. and being there for it.

[@peterdevita6308]

Surprised you have not heard of O.Neil; he has sung all the major tenor repertoire roles or years in his era!

[@ellenbacklin]

I saw Ramey at lyric opera chicago about 8 years ago. Same production.

[@michaelyesidmedinavillamiz7381]

i love ramey!!!!!!!

[@tww2002]

PERFECT.

[@JoeKundlak]

A great restoration of a masterpiece!

[@BarbaraWilliams-mr6yp]

WONDERFUL. THE BEST.

[@Icechipps]

I love this!

[@davidsanchez4056]

Ramey brutal! Extraterrestre!

[@XaiXaiJoaoBelo]

Le fabuleux metteur en scène Robert Carsen! Un génie de l'opéra!

[@jeffreyhunter7635]

1:50:38 the drama all around it and the tempo perfectly paced for her lungs! She commands the rubato with such mastery and the high C at 1:50:53 omg 😱 the lean on the breath! The surety of the spin and the release of air at the end with a great cresc. Phenomenal singing actress

[@GregJonson]

That's a B, not a C 🙃

[@mariangelacatto1460]

Grande regia!

[@mariangelacatto1460]

Ramey bravissimo e bellissimo!

[@joaovictorcerqueira894]

2:18:16 this scene 💥🗿🍷

[@jovi1715]

Carsen ❤

[@perfectfourth9970]

1:24

[@giuserastelli4245]

ottimo allestimento, esecuzione e voci ! altro che quello di oggi a Roma 2023 di Stone che è venuto a Roma dall'Australia per fare schifo!

[@days8187]

Infatti concordo in pieno non ero mai riuscito a vedere il Mefistofele di Bonito, chiudi gli occhi e la musica una delle più grandiose di sempre, quasi ti fa entrare in una dimensione soprannaturale...ma certo l allestimento del Teatro dell Opera di Roma, in chiave moderna ormai a tutti i costi, patetico e penoso...

[@user-dl5yo5cn9k]

What in the ku klux is going on with the costumes in the prologue 😂

[@jeffreyhunter7635]

I was thinking the same damned thing

[@kevinloscalzo8638]

The Klansmen were supposed to represent the 'blessed souls of the white knights', so there's a reference 😂

[@terez7375]

7:20 ave

[@terez7375]

17:13 sanctus

[@terez7375]

20:05 salve

[@terez7375]

27:35 delvago

[@terez7375]

29:28 guarda

[@terez7375]

32:34 juhe