ëFaust’ Cleans Up Its Act

BY JAY NORDLINGER [NY Sun, 5 October 2006]
When Andrei Serban’s production of Gounod’s “Faust” made its debut at the Metropolitan Opera two seasons ago, it did not please everybody. (What can?) Many critics found it too busy, gaudy, and distracting. My view, in a nutshell, was, “This is ëFaust’ ó let it all hang out.” Most controversial was the bodysuit worn by MÈphistophÈlËs in the church scene. Speaking of letting it all hang out: That suit showed a lot of equipment, if you know what I mean.