I have watched this David Hockney production of The Rake's Progress over and over and over. The singing and acting are superb. The orchestral playing is equally so. Bernard Haitink's conducting could be a mite snappier but this is a very small complaint. He knows his Stravinsky, as his discography demonstrates.
The colorful production is based upon the series of 18th Century engravings by Hogarth. These engravings along with the Faust legend informed the librettist and the composer. Felicity Lott brings youthful innocence and an exquisite vocal technique to her performance of Ann Truelove. Samuel Ramey is the quintessential Nick Shadow, just as he is the perfect Mefistofele in Boito's opera of that name. Goeke's Tom Rakewell is totally charming: his degeneration and eventual salvation (ironically by way of insanity) breaks the heart to hear and watch. Rosalind Elias as always is a consummate artist. Her Baba the Turk is musically enthralling even as the portrayal is both hilarious and imperious. Richard van Allan is a dignified and compassionate Father Truelove. The chorus sings and acts to perfection.
I use this film when teaching college seminars on topics such as "The Faust Legend" or "The Hero's Journey." Students are invariably drawn deeply into the heart of the work by the wonderful qualities of this production. It was as of April 2005 very hard to find on VHS, but it has since then been digitalized and released on DVD. The picture and sound quality are better in the later two-cassette edition than in the earlier one cassette version. Both picture and sound are better in the DVD version.
The colorful production is based upon the series of 18th Century engravings by Hogarth. These engravings along with the Faust legend informed the librettist and the composer. Felicity Lott brings youthful innocence and an exquisite vocal technique to her performance of Ann Truelove. Samuel Ramey is the quintessential Nick Shadow, just as he is the perfect Mefistofele in Boito's opera of that name. Goeke's Tom Rakewell is totally charming: his degeneration and eventual salvation (ironically by way of insanity) breaks the heart to hear and watch. Rosalind Elias as always is a consummate artist. Her Baba the Turk is musically enthralling even as the portrayal is both hilarious and imperious. Richard van Allan is a dignified and compassionate Father Truelove. The chorus sings and acts to perfection.
I use this film when teaching college seminars on topics such as "The Faust Legend" or "The Hero's Journey." Students are invariably drawn deeply into the heart of the work by the wonderful qualities of this production. It was as of April 2005 very hard to find on VHS, but it has since then been digitalized and released on DVD. The picture and sound quality are better in the later two-cassette edition than in the earlier one cassette version. Both picture and sound are better in the DVD version.