Organization

Conductor

Maurizio Arena

Stage director

Robert Carsen

Set designer

Michael Levine

Singer

Bass

Samuel Ramey

Mefistofele

Tenor

Dennis O'Neill

Faust

Soprano

Gabriela Beňačková

Margherita

Elena

Contralto

Judith Christin

Marta

Emily Manhart

Pantalis

Daniel Harper

Wagner

Douglas Wunsch

Nereo

Lighting designer

Thomas J Munn

Chorus master

Ian Robertson

Choreographer

Alphonse Poulin

Repetiteur

Christopher Larkin

Patrick Summers

Philip Eisenberg

Assistant Stage Directors

Peter McClintock

Claudia Zahn

San Francisco Opera

Orchestra

San Francisco Opera Orchestra

Grand Théâtre de Genève

Others

San Francisco Boys and Girls  Chorus

Italian

Mefistofele -  (Mephistopheles)

San Francisco

United States

Arrigo Boito's treatment of the Faust legend is imaginative yet also faithful to Goethe's original conception, and the score is memorable for its rich orchestral sounds, beautifully punctuated with lyrical passages and choral interludes.

Robert Carsen's sumptuous, post-modern production of Mefistofele is a gloriously decadent and theatrically stunning realisation, and the San Francisco Opera's performance has been unanimously acclaimed in both Paris and San Francisco.

Samuel Ramey, in the title role, has won both critical and overwhelming popular approval.

The opera premiered in 1868 at La Scala, Milan. It is characterized by its rich orchestral sounds, beautifully punctuated with lyrical passages and choral interludes. Robert Calsen's staging sublimes that work with a post-modern production, both theatrically stunning and profundly decadent.

The performance has been unanimously acclaimed in San Francisco and Paris, and Samuel Ramey, the title role, has won both critical and popular approval.

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