I like that modern art causes me to stop and ask
questions - to pause in the midst of the familiar and have to deal with
something very unfamiliar. It is in this context that I enjoyed Austin Lyric
Opera’s performance of Faust this
past week. Unfortunately, I am uncertain if the modern interpretation by
Bernard Uzan truly worked. I like leaving modern art with questions, but Faust is supposed to provide very clear
answers about good versus evil and I admit I’m still baffled almost a week later.
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| Photography by Mark Matson. Posted at Long Center |
First and foremost, I must commend the entire crew: The
acting, the singing, and the sets were superb! The scene in the insane asylum
will most likely haunt my dreams for years to come – it was so vivid and
terrifying!
The place where I am left confused and I believe the opera
was lacking is in the interpretation and understanding of Faust. I admire anyone who tackles a new rendition of an old production, but I’m not entirely convinced this one hit the
mark. I fully agree with Bernard Uzan that “the quest for Faust doesn't belong
to a specific time” and that “the story belongs to humanity” outside of time,
but I believe it needs a different reboot.
The message of Faust got muddled. My opera companion
commented with a very poignant remark as we were walking home from the opera
Thursday night that, “they were very good at doing the bad, but not so good at
the good.” And I agree. In contemplating the end scene in which Mephistopheles
is supposed to be turned away by the words “Christ es ressuscite!” there was no
clear victory of the good over evil. Mephistopheles got to turn and wheel Faust
away – Marguerite had clearly broken free and was saved, but it became more
about her personal salvation than the salvation of mankind and the victory of
ALL good over evil.
I would love to hear other people’s feedback on what they
thought. Perhaps I’m still trying to wrap my mind around a new interpretation? It felt very choppy, and perhaps that is keeping me from piecing details together? Or perhaps I've hit on something that others felt as well? In any case, I would
greatly enjoy entering into dialogue with others about the opera and I thank
Austin Lyric Opera for presenting an opera that posed questions.