Opera Scotland

Faust 1990Slovak National Opera, Bratislava

Read more about the opera Faust

The 1990 Edinburgh Festival saw an interesting concentration on the performing arts of the newly-created Slovak Republic. While the National Theatre from Prague had visited Edinburgh before, and had Slovak artists in the ensemble, the Bratislava company now had a prominent identity of its own. Four operas were brought. Two big shows, using the ballet company in addition to opera, appeared at the Playhouse. These were Prince Igor and Faust. The King's Theatre hosted two more intimate native pieces in Julietta and The Whirlpool, which received its British premiere.

The Playhouse schedule was in the week commencing 20 Aug: Mon Faust; Tue no perf; Wed Prince Igor; Thu Prince Igor; Fri Faust; Sat Faust.

The King's showings the following week were: 27 Aug The Whirlpool; 29 & 30 Aug Julietta.

Given the enormous popularity of Faust in the century after its composition, it is perhaps not surprising that its reputation had grown tarnished. In the fifties, the Carl Rosa had continued to bring it to Scotland, while Scottish Opera had caused astonishment by staging it in its third season, 1964, with an equally successful revival in 1966. Since then, silence - even the amateur companies gave it far less often before. Since then, however, it has regained its popularity in the world's major houses, including Covent Garden and the Met.

This hugely entertaining cabaret-style production from Bratislava was the first full size staging in Scotland in a quarter-century, and it hasn't been seen since. The singers of Faust and Méphistophélès were especially good, and there was a big ballet, in which Marguerite and the Devil were joined by representatives of Sex and Power. A bit different from what Gounod would have expected.