Faust

Sumptuous production values, and Russell certainly understands how to stage an opera. I'm allergic to staged preludes, but there are worse concepts than this--the opera itself as a fever-dream of Faust's. Vocally, it's a mixed bag...I prefer Méphistophélès to be more bass than baritone, which Mr. Raimondi is not. Araiza had such a lovely voice here, before he decided he should sing Wagner--a curious decision considering his weak low register. Gabriela Beňačková is not quite suited to Marguerite.