Teddy Tahu Rhodes shows the devil he knows in Faust revival

Scottish director Sir David McVicar shows his class in Opera Australia’s revival of Charles Gounod’s tragic morality tale Faust.

Dancers in the Walpurgis Night orgy scene from Opera Australia's production of Faust. Picture: Prudence Upton *PLS CREDIT*

Based on his co-production boasting a collaboration between four top European opera companies, primarily London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Gounod’s Paris in the 1870s is magnificently captured by Charles Edwards’ majestic sets recreating such landmarks as the organ loft of Notre Dame Cathedral, a box at the Paris Opera and Montmartre’s infamous nightclub Cabaret L’Infer. It runs for seven performances until March 11.

Star of the show is New Zealand’s bass baritone star Teddy Tahu Rhodes as evil personified – the scene where he cleaves the crucifix in two is truly shocking - and sometimes with a touch pantomime thrown in.

For him it is a case of the devil he knows, having played Mephistopheles to the hilt in Opera Australia’s highly acclaimed 2015 production. That show featured a stunning Faust in the exciting American tenor Michael Fabiano, but this new production was equally well-served with young Italian star in the making, Ivan Magri.

Taught by Luciano Pavarotti, no less, the Sicilian has been wowing audiences throughout Europe and made an equally strong impression last year with his Australian debut as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Boheme opposite Lebanese-Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury.

SEDUCED

However the longest and loudest ovation of the night went to 39-year-old Russian soprano Irina Lungu as the tragic heroine Marguerite. She has performed with the likes of Riccardo Muti, Lorin Maazel, Franco Zeffirelli and Luca Ronconi, and her Australian debut was one to treasure.

Irina Lungu as Marguerite in Opera Australia's production of Faust at the Sydney Opera House. Picture: Prudence Upton

Blessed with a seemingly effortless even tone across the range, and a rich silvery timbre that lifts easily above a big orchestra and chorus, she also has the considerable acting skills – and the clarion high notes - needed to portray a young woman who literally goes through hell after being seduced with the aid of some diabolic diamonds by a man in league with the devil.

She and Magri have great chemistry, his celebrated mentor having taught him well how to deliver a ringing top C.

Tahu Rhodes’s voice, although still magnificent, does show occasional sounds of wear with a wide vibrato sometimes blurring the lines. However, he is a showman par excellence and although he didn’t get his shirt off in this production, we did get a good look at his sleeve tats when he dragged up Frank-N-Furter style in a voluminous black off the shoulder number.

Opera Australia stalwart baritone Michael Honeyman was as impeccable as always as Marguerite’s brother Valentin, who condemns her for getting pregnant, only to be killed in a duel by the father to be.

Conductor Lorenzo Passerini showed energy and flair and a keen judgment of tempo and momentum

And Anna Dowsley was also a standard in the pants role of Siebel, Valentin’s hapless friend and rejected suitor who fails to protect her while her brother is off soldiering.

Shane Placentino’s revival choreography was a superb showpiece in the big numbers – the devilish cabaret and the Walpurgis Night orgy in which pure classical ballet moves morphed into simulated sex – and the chorus as always were in brilliant form for the Soldiers’ Chorus and the hymnlike finale delivered from the top wings of the auditorium.

Conductor Lorenzo Passerini showed energy and flair and a keen judgment of tempo and momentum, ensuring that this three-and-a-half hour long haul never dragged. Both halves were started with a golf swing of the baton.

Opera Australia have done away with the big gaudy $20 programs in favour of free pocket-sized ones. This is no doubt a move for the better but one could wish for the names of the orchestra, under their concertmaster Jun Yi Ma, to be included. They were exceptional and I think we deserve to know who the all-important organist was.

DETAILS

● OPERA Faust

● STARRING Ivan Magri, Irina Lungu and Teddy Tahu Rhodes

● WHERE Sydney Opera House Joan Sutherland Theatre

● WHEN Monday, February 10

● SEASON February 14, 20, 22, 26, 29; March 6, 11