Mephistopheles and Other Bad Guys

AN ODE TO LOW-VOICED BAD GUYS

In opera, specific voice types are often associated with certain types of characters. Numerous and diverse associations exist also for the bass voice, who can be a father, a villain, an elderly man, a religious figure, a comic character—or, indeed, a combination of the above. One recurring association for this voice type, however, deserves particular attention: that with evil, wicked, even diabolical characters. It is on that immensely fascinating association that this collection of arias is focused. The nineteen selections – composed by Mozart, Beethoven, Weber, Wagner, Meyerbeer, Berlioz, Gounod, Offenbach, Verdi, Boito, Mussorgsky, Stravinsky and Getty – take us on a journey through a period spanning some two hundred years, exploring how composers working in diverse national and institutional contexts and writing in an array of styles and genres exploited the bass voice to engage with the depiction of such characters.


This colourful repertoire is sung by the esteemed American bass-baritone Kevin Short, whose powerful voice is as sensuous as it is sinister. Short is accompanied by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille, led by its Music Director Lawrence Foster. Earlier this year, this orchestra and conductor were hailed for their PENTATONE releases of Martinů Double Concertos and A Certain Slant of Light.

Tracklisting : 

CHARLES GOUNOD (1818-1893)
From “Faust” (1859)
1 Méphistophélès’ Rondo: “Le veau d’or”(The golden calf) 2. 17
2 Méphistophélès’ Serenade: “Vous qui faites l’endormie” 3. 10


ARRIGO BOITO (1842-1918)
From “Mefistofele” (1868/1876)
3 Mefistofele’s Song of the whistle: “Son lo Spirito che nega” 3. 53
4 Mefistofele’s Ballad of the world: “Ecco il mondo” 2. 43


LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Orchestration by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)
5 Es war einmal ein König Op.75,3 2. 13
(Song of the flea from Goethe’s “Faust”) (1809/1975)


LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
From “Fidelio” Op. 72 (1805/1814)
6 Pizarro’s Aria: ”Ha! Welch ein Augenblick” 3. 27
Male chorus of the Opéra de Marseille
Chorus master: Emmanuel Trenque


WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756-1791)
From “Die Entführung aus dem Serail” KV 384 (1782)
7 Osmin’s Song: “Wer ein Liebchen hat gefunden” 2. 19
8 Osmin’s Aria: “O, wie will ich triumphieren” 3. 44


CARL MARIA VON WEBER (1786-1826)
From “Der Freischütz” J.277 (1821)
9 Caspar’s Aria: “Schweig, schweig, damit dich niemand warnt” 3. 17


JACQUES OFFENBACH (1819-1880)
From “Les contes d’Hoffmann” (1881)
10 Lindorff’s Couplets: “Dans les rôles d’amoureux langoureux” 2. 41
11 Dappertutto’s Aria: “Scintille, diamant” 2. 40


GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813-1901)
From “I Lombardi” (1843)
12 Pagano’s Aria: “Sciagurata! Hai tu creduto” 5. 02


HECTOR BERLIOZ (1803-1869)
From “La damnation de Faust” Op.24 (1846)
13 Méphistophélès’ Aria: “Voici des roses” 2. 37
14 Méphistophélès’ Serenade: “Devant la maison” 2. 21


GORDON GETTY (born 1933)
15 Mephistopheles to Faust 3. 00
(Lyrics by the composer)


MODEST MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)
Orchestration by Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
16 Song of Mephistopheles in Auerbach’s Cellar from Goethe’s “Faust” 3. 09
Pesnya o blokhe (Song of the flea) (1879)


IGOR STRAVINSKY
From “The Rake’s Progress” (1951)
17 Shadow’s Aria: “I burn! I freeze!” 1. 49


GIACOMO MEYERBEER (1791-1884)
From “Robert le diable” (1831)
18 Bertram’s Recitative and Evocation 3. 08
“Voici donc les débris - Nonnes, qui reposez”

RICHARD WAGNER (1813-1883)
From ”Das Rheingold, Der Ring des NIbelungen” (1854)
19 Alberich’s Aria: “Bin ich nun frei?” 3. 31