My daughter was in the children's chorus with HGO, but was not yet old enough to be in this opera staged there....this was the most powerful chorus I've ever heard of hundreds of performances I've seen - especially the opening and closing chorus - it gave me and image of what Heaven must be like someday. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be part of it.
I saw this when a very young Sam Ramey took over the role in the midseventies. His performance and the staging at The New York City Opera absolutely blew me away. I have not seen anything so wonderful since. For the opening and closing the chorus was in various parts of the theater and voices came from all around us. In the finale, Ramey did three backwards somersaults when cast out of heaven. It was so surprising that a young woman sitting in front of us fell out of her chair.
I truly believe that THIS is the greatest, most sublime ending of ANY OPERA - it torpedoes me from the depths of my deepest held emotions and catapults me into the highest bliss possible of my soul.
Totally agree. In fact, this is my all-time favorite opera--and I've been listening to opera for over 30 years! The melodies are sublime throughout. Boito has not yet gotten the recognition he deserves.
This is EVERYTHING you go to the Opera to experience. It is the eternal story. And for my money, the best dam opera ever written. So many memorable arias...and of course the devil himself would be jealous of Samuel. BRAVO!
I think this is the most beautiful piece of music I ever gonna hear in my life. Always brings me to tears. I get this unexplainable feeling from it! Just Epic!
Probably one of the great stagings of all time of this opera? And the finale rivals anything out there. It manages to be at once Wagner and Puccini at the same time. :)
I saw this actual opera live. When the chorus did it's main piece, I don't think I was alone with goosebumps. I'm now in my 70's and it was one of the most memorable times of my life. Thank you for posting.
Finally, a clear picture and stunning sound! They must have transferred this to a DVD. I saw it in person here in San Francisco... It was over the top brilliant!
So fortunate to see this live in its original run in San Francisco 4 times, twice in the Orchestra, twice standing room. Perfect cast and Samuel Ramey was on fire! Best performance I've ever seen, hands down! I watch the dvd every few months or so. Never gets tiring...
I just saw this production at the Met with Christian van Horn as a fine Mefistofele. But it’s true that Ramey owned this role for many years. I saw him in the old NYCOpera production, and it was an astonishing experience.
This from a Jewish agnostic: Have priests, nuns, and ministers waiting at the exits of this opera -- and Sour Angelika -- and I'll be ready to sign up!
As far as I know, it almost was made for Feodor Shalyapin. But there are similarities between them: both are one of the greatest opera singers of their time... and not only singers but magnificent actors too... and the best Mephistopheleses ever... and seem to be just nice people with good sense of humour ^_^
@@ian1856 I have two major misses in my small opera life. I never got to see Treigle or Corelli live and both were measuring sticks. I can find a lot of Corelli but very little on Norman. The opera unfortunately losses something with these mod ending. Rolling off the stage and the lights going out is so impacting!
@@ian1856 I am always amazed that the Arts are always screaming for money and spend like drunkards in coming up with new up to date productions, like Rigoletto set in Las Vegas ( no hunchback etc). Use the standard costumes, save a fortune, opera fits the libretto, keep it for real, and save a ton of money for future productions. NYC opera was great for years and then went broke.
No doubt absolutely captivating. A sexy devil makes it very engaging. He is tremendous, and I find myself rooting and despising Mefio. Breathtaking production with a sexy superstar who creates conflict about our moral principles. What better drama could there be?
I first saw this opera at the Terme de Caracalla in Rome over 40 years ago with Cesare Siepe. Then in LA with Triegle. Then later with Ramey. This final scene, which is only partially shown here, has always blown me away.
I think that was 1970. I was there on business, went to the Caracalla for opera, but - since I had never heard of Mefistofele back then and only knew Siepi as Don from the best recordings, I went to some other (better known) opera in stead ... Could shoot myself, Siepi and Mephistofele right there and I MISSED them!!!
Great to see this video. One must wonder that this opera is on stage so very seldom ... There are wonderful chorus scenes and favorable soloists parts ....
I saw this on Classic Arts Showcase some years ago & it is absolutely breathtaking!! Thank you for this. I moved & no longer get that channel. I never thought I'd see it again!
First, great finale by Boito. Powerful, overwhelming. Second, there may have been a greater Mefistofole then Ramey, but I've sure never seen him. Electrifying. Last, I love this production. When I used to watch this many years ago on VHS with my then little kids, they were mesmerized by this performance. They called it the 'Devil Opera'. Had it on VHS, DVD, and currently Blu-ray. One of my favorites our of almost 100 operas I have on DVD or Blu-ray. Unfortunately, Ramey was the last great Bass we've had so far. Hopefully there's another in the pipeline to eventually do honor to this, one of the real showpieces for a bass.
Esto es un decorado escénico como Dios manda, y no las porquerías del Liceu. Magnífico todo: voces, coro, decorados, director, todo. En USA está ahora el auténtico espíritu de la ópera y en Europa la decadencia en manos de directores de escena "vedettes" (en todos los sentidos)
jordiboma ¡Anda yaaaa.!.Y no digas estupideces. El público se nutre de gente de todo el mundo. En EU2, son como los Simpsons. Europa, lo ha mamado.EU2, NO. Lo sabe de oído.
Я под огромным впечатлением от этой оперы! Рэми просто дьявольски божественен! Лучше него, по моему мнению, никто эту партию не исполняет и не проживает. Глядя на этого Мефистофеля, прекрасно понимаешь КАК продают душу! Браво!
Except that Turadot's finale is fake. Puccini wasn't able to five the opera such a improbable finale. After all, Turandot is more adept of blood than "love"
Was an angel in the children’s chorus in this production, Ramey was amazing and very kind.
That is so cool
Was blessed to be in this opera in 1998 as a part of the children’s chorus. Still gives me chills every time I see this final scene.
Which company?
My daughter was in the children's chorus with HGO, but was not yet old enough to be in this opera staged there....this was the most powerful chorus I've ever heard of hundreds of performances I've seen - especially the opening and closing chorus - it gave me and image of what Heaven must be like someday. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be part of it.
I was in this opera. Fond memories as one of the angels
My dad sang this at NY City Opera in 1969. This is everything you go to the Opera for. It could not be more awesome. It has become our family anthem.
I saw this when a very young Sam Ramey took over the role in the midseventies. His performance and the staging at The New York City Opera absolutely blew me away. I have not seen anything so wonderful since. For the opening and closing the chorus was in various parts of the theater and voices came from all around us. In the finale, Ramey did three backwards somersaults when cast out of heaven. It was so surprising that a young woman sitting in front of us fell out of her chair.
One of the grandest grand operas I have ever seen. What a production and dare I say Samuel Ramey is a heavenly Satan. !
I truly believe that THIS is the greatest, most sublime ending of ANY OPERA - it torpedoes me from the depths of my deepest held emotions and catapults me into the highest bliss possible of my soul.
awesomely said my Rikki
Totally agree. In fact, this is my all-time favorite opera--and I've been listening to opera for over 30 years! The melodies are sublime throughout. Boito has not yet gotten the recognition he deserves.
Some finality
@@tommyt9761 Yeah- it hit me that way 40 years ago and I am sticking with it. :)
Hi Amazing he only wrote two for Opera’s did several librettos for verity no
Saw Ramey live in this production in Chicago--I had to remind myself to breathe as this was unfolding. A moment I'll never forget
I used to sing in boy choir and we also performed in this opera...i will never forget the amazing feeling that i got even as a little boy.
This is EVERYTHING you go to the Opera to experience. It is the eternal story. And for my money, the best dam opera ever written. So many memorable arias...and of course the devil himself would be jealous of Samuel. BRAVO!
I love this opera and Ramey is fantastic in it.
Amazing from start to finish: The soloists, chorus, and brass at the very end. Brilliant finale by the composer.
Now that is Grand Opera. What an ending. That should make an opera fan out of anyone.
tww 200 duuh, wait for me in 20 years dear earthling
I think this is the most beautiful piece of music I ever gonna hear in my life. Always brings me to tears. I get this unexplainable feeling from it! Just Epic!
Probably one of the great stagings of all time of this opera? And the finale rivals anything out there. It manages to be at once Wagner and Puccini at the same time. :)
Who staged this one?
The staging is incandescent. The brightness and glory of heaven set to music.
I was in the chorus in the 1989 Carsen premier of this production - Grand Theatre Geneve. Incredible experience.
@@richardjonesm oh wow! Hats off to you! Thanks for sharing.
@@paulbrown5079 The Met.
Grand opera in the grand manner! Great music, lavish settings, glorious!
Takes my breath away. This is heaven on earth
I saw this actual opera live. When the chorus did it's main piece, I don't think I was alone with goosebumps. I'm now in my 70's and it was one of the most memorable times of my life. Thank you for posting.
Must have been the greatest production of this opera. What a powerful, exquisite singer Samuel Ramey!
Finally, a clear picture and stunning sound! They must have transferred this to a DVD. I saw it in person here in San Francisco... It was over the top brilliant!
MERAVIGLIOSO ! Grande Coro da brivido. Scenografie e costumi spendidi. Complimenti a tutti !!!
The chorus takes my breath away
When Boito wasn't writing great music, he was writing the librettos for Verdi's Otello
and Falstaff. Not bad.
And parts of Simon Boccanegra.
Bravo botto ci hai regalato un opera decisamente bella con finale grandioso,belle melodie cori esaltanti.BRAVO BOITO
ITS THE BEST CHORUS HEARED IN TUTTI LE UNIVERSE !!!
So fortunate to see this live in its original run in San Francisco 4 times, twice in the Orchestra, twice standing room. Perfect cast and Samuel Ramey was on fire! Best performance I've ever seen, hands down! I watch the dvd every few months or so. Never gets tiring...
An astounding production. Ramey was made for this role.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS 😍😍😍
Cenografia deslumbrante!!!Samuel Ramey INESQUECÍVEL!!!!
I just saw this production at the Met with Christian van Horn as a fine Mefistofele. But it’s true that Ramey owned this role for many years. I saw him in the old NYCOpera production, and it was an astonishing experience.
Great singing and acting by Ramey here! Powerful score by Boito too.
This from a Jewish agnostic: Have priests, nuns, and ministers waiting at the exits of this opera -- and Sour Angelika -- and I'll be ready to sign up!
Me too. :) Couldn't agree more. Amazing all-around production and taps into the spirituality that's in all of us.
So true... !!!
Yes, even "Sour Angelika" could rap my knuckles into submission!
The best of the best … From Costa Rica 🇨🇷
Che spettacolo! Bellissima regia. E splendido il Mefistofele di Samuel Ramey.
I have seen this production twice: once in DC and once at the Met, both times with Ramey. It takes your breath away. This music is sublime.
This role was made for Ramey...I can't see anybody else singing it!!
Yes, he was great.....I never had the fortune to see Treigle!
As far as I know, it almost was made for Feodor Shalyapin.
But there are similarities between them: both are one of the greatest opera singers of their time... and not only singers but magnificent actors too... and the best Mephistopheleses ever... and seem to be just nice people with good sense of humour ^_^
@@ian1856 I have two major misses in my small opera life. I never got to see Treigle or Corelli live and both were measuring sticks. I can find a lot of Corelli but very little on Norman. The opera unfortunately losses something with these mod ending. Rolling off the stage and the lights going out is so impacting!
@@ian1856 I am always amazed that the Arts are always screaming for money and spend like drunkards in coming up with new up to date productions, like Rigoletto set in Las Vegas ( no hunchback etc). Use the standard costumes, save a fortune, opera fits the libretto, keep it for real, and save a ton of money for future productions. NYC opera was great for years and then went broke.
@@tommyt9761 Agreed!!!
Oh my God!!!
what an ending!
Il più grandioso e geniale finale d'opera mai sentito.
A masterpiece of the music ... amazing
No doubt absolutely captivating. A sexy devil makes it very engaging. He is tremendous, and I find myself rooting and despising Mefio. Breathtaking production with a sexy superstar who creates conflict about our moral principles. What better drama could there be?
magnifico final de MEFISTOFELE
Meraviglioso Ramey!
Extraordinaria actuación en la escena final de las mejores voces de su cuerda.
That really put me in the mood for an " El Diablo Sandwich "...;))))
ein grandioses Finale. Gänsehaut pur!
Beautifully done!!!! Thks
I saw it at the Houston Grand Opera, and was amazed right from the begining! Loved it!
Simplemente maravilloso.!!!
I saw this production live in Covent Garden. Glorious production. Wonderful music.
My very favorite opera, I was a super in the WNO production. I was in the top tier looking out at the audience, seeing their jaws drop. Stupendous!
Splendida regia, finale visivamente strepitoso.
MARAVILLOSO VERLO EN DIRECTO
Very Moving and Powerful . Such vocal range.
Chef d'oeuvre!
Obra-Prima!
Thank you Master Carsen!
Yes.... the Kings beat the Devils again in OT! Very prophetic video...
Bravi....
I first saw this opera at the Terme de Caracalla in Rome over 40 years ago with Cesare Siepe. Then in LA with Triegle. Then later with Ramey. This final scene, which is only partially shown here, has always blown me away.
I think that was 1970. I was there on business, went to the Caracalla for opera, but - since I had never heard of Mefistofele back then and only knew Siepi as Don from the best recordings, I went to some other (better known) opera in stead ... Could shoot myself, Siepi and Mephistofele right there and I MISSED them!!!
Meraviglioso Sam!
Great to see this video. One must wonder that this opera is on stage so very seldom ... There are wonderful chorus scenes and favorable soloists parts ....
Truly grand opera at it,s finest
I saw this on Classic Arts Showcase some years ago & it is absolutely breathtaking!! Thank you for this. I moved & no longer get that channel. I never thought I'd see it again!
First, great finale by Boito. Powerful, overwhelming. Second, there may have been a greater Mefistofole then Ramey, but I've sure never seen him. Electrifying. Last, I love this production. When I used to watch this many years ago on VHS with my then little kids, they were mesmerized by this performance. They called it the 'Devil Opera'. Had it on VHS, DVD, and currently Blu-ray. One of my favorites our of almost 100 operas I have on DVD or Blu-ray. Unfortunately, Ramey was the last great Bass we've had so far. Hopefully there's another in the pipeline to eventually do honor to this, one of the real showpieces for a bass.
Espectacular escena final..¡¡¡
1:31 to 1:37 was just out of this world spectacular
Bellísima la voz de Ramey!!! Bravo!!!!
Esto es un decorado escénico como Dios manda, y no las porquerías del Liceu. Magnífico todo: voces, coro, decorados, director, todo. En USA está ahora el auténtico espíritu de la ópera y en Europa la decadencia en manos de directores de escena "vedettes" (en todos los sentidos)
jordiboma ¡Anda yaaaa.!.Y no digas estupideces. El público se nutre de gente de todo el mundo. En EU2, son como los Simpsons. Europa, lo ha mamado.EU2, NO. Lo sabe de oído.
Si Boito se lo imagino asi, como será de hermoso el cielo
Ramey eccezionale
Extraordinario final.
Lirica meravigliosa.
Molto bello💓
GRANDE RAMEY per UN GRANDE BOITO!
QUE GRAN FINAL MARAVILLOSO.-
Супер! Arrigo Boito is great!
LO MÁXIMO , SAMUEL RAMEY, CORO, MÚSICA TODO.
Quel opéra, quelle musique, quel Boïto!
Я под огромным впечатлением от этой оперы! Рэми просто дьявольски божественен! Лучше него, по моему мнению, никто эту партию не исполняет и не проживает. Глядя на этого Мефистофеля, прекрасно понимаешь КАК продают душу! Браво!
Un capolavoro!!!
Most impressive! Great music!
Magistral Ramey.
Man I would’ve been happy just being an Angel back there
MARAVILLOSO
Lo mejor de esta opera es el prologo en el cielo. Es conmovedor.
Impresionante la interpretación de ""Samuel Ramey"".!!
Qué música tan sublime!!!! Emocionante!!!!
Genial. a masterpiece.
danke, daß ich die Einmaligkeit dieser Szene erkennen kann
QUE GRANDIOSOFINAL VERDADERAMENTE MARAVILLOSO.-
Superb!
Ramey is the greatest! Amazing!!
La musica italiana al suo Top
sometimes I think this finale beats Turandot. then I listen to Turandot and love it too. I love them both!!!
Except that Turadot's finale is fake. Puccini wasn't able to five the opera such a improbable finale. After all, Turandot is more adept of blood than "love"
Grandeiosa escena final.!!
The Mario Del Monaco version, MDM sounds like an Apocalyptic angel
Bravi tutti !
Totalmente de acuerdo
opravdu skvěle provedeno 0.K.
Thrilling, stupendous and ye, sublime, enriquesanchez. Phil Pickens, were you in this production?
Hard to beat. Just plain hard to beat.
satan is finally defeated
+operalover67 truly stirring production grand opera at the very best ramey is superb
Wow.