Klarinet Archive - Posting 000060.txt from 2002/07

From: "James Hobby" <jhobby@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Opera: Faust
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2002 00:05:41 -0400

Not clarinet, but at least music.

Does anyone wish to venture a guess why there is no good video of Faust
available? Actually, I can tie it to clarinet, since I first "learned" the
opera when I was playing the pit for it -- what? -- 35 years ago. I went to
nonorchestral rehersals with my score to study how it was done. The
conductor made so many cuts that a red pencil and box of paperclips wasn't
enough to keep up with him. (It didn't help that the first score I received
from Kalmus had the signatures sewn out of order!)

I have three copies. 1. A "factory" print from the Bel Canto Society
that's semi-dreadful. Actually, more amateurish the just dreadful,
film-wise. Some of the theatrics, as well, actually. Looks like it was
shot with a couple of old RCA home videocameras. No subtitles. Kraus in
the title role This is a 1986 Parma performance.

2. A copy of an unknown source that is almost unwatchable. It was a 1977
Japaneese production. Also looks like it was shot with home cameras. HUGE
Japaneese subtitles. Very poor video, but I don't know if the original --
whatever that may be -- was any better. Also Kraus in the title role.

3. A copy of a broadcast recording of the Chicago Lyric 1980 telecast. I
think the best overall musically and theatrically and videographically.
English subtitles. My print is very poor, being recorded on one tape at LP,
but the sound is, at least, in hi-fi, and quite good. Kraus, also, in the
title role. I've been told (I don't know what level of authority) that the
Lyric recording can't be released commercially because of some licensing
rights conflicts. I'd love to have a factory print or DVD of this version.)

Does anyone else know of another version that's commercially available? And
just out of curiosity, does anyone besides Kraus sing Faust?!?!? If you
don't want to muddy the KL list, personal email's are fine.

Jim Hobby

---------------------------------------------------------------------