Méphistophélès

Not good, for so many reasons. Boito was not a good composer, and didn't even write particularly well for the voice. The cast is undistinguished, except for Paata Burchuladze, who is marvelous. The chorus is incompetent, the orchestra little better, and the conductor can't keep anyone together. The RAI folks had no idea where to point the camera most of the time. Russell's direction...what can one say? Fascinatingly bad. He (willfully) misses the point most of time. But it keeps your interest!