"Age Of Innocence" Shows Martin Scorsese Love For Opera

Ms. Pfeiffer (facing camera) at the opera in the film Age of Innocence. Read a wonderful article documenting the history of opera in the life of director Martin Scorsese by clicking here.

"The Age of Innocence is a 1993 American film adaptation of Edith Wharton's 1920 novel of the same name. The film was released by Columbia Pictures, directed by Martin Scorsese, and stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Winona Ryder. The film won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, and was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Winona Ryder), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Art Direction. The film was dedicated to Martin Scorsese's father, Luciano Charles Scorsese, who died before it was completed." [Source] The opera scene that opens the movie is from Gounod's Faust and shot at the Philadelphia Academy of Music. Watch the scene and read the movie plot, after the jump.

"Alerte! Alerte!" With Paul Plishka, Pietro Ballo, Kallen Esperian

The Metropolitan Opera presented Gounod's Faust today as part of their "Live in HD" series. Here is a throwback to a 1989 concert performance of the final trio "Alerte! Alerte!" with Paul Plishka, Pietro Ballo and Kallen Esperian:

Singers to Perform Gounod's "Faust" in Coeur d'Alene

Tenor Vale Rideout will sing Faust.

"Faust, the old professor, restored to youth and vitality by his deal with the devil, is played by nationally acclaimed Vale Rideout, whose love songs soar on majestic high C’s. He has been acclaimed by New York Times, Opera News, Boston Globe, Denver Post, to name a few. Just this year, he will be singing lead roles in Tampa and Phoenix, will be a soloist with the Dallas Symphony at Carnegie Hall, and will have leading roles in world premieres of two new operas. Marguerite, the beautiful, gentle innocent who is seduced by Faust, condemned by her brother, and reduced to insanity and murder is played by Shana Blake Hill. Her performance of Rosalba in the Cincinnati Opera’s Florencia en el Amazonas was hailed by the national Opera News as 'floods of glorious sound.' Bass Jamie Offenbach, makes the Satanic Méphistophélès alternatively thunder through the auditorium then softens to hypnotically sweet tones of enticement. Jamie has sung leading roles with the opera houses in Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Baltimore, San Diego Opera and many more. He is a regular at the Savonlinna, Finland Music Festival. Valentin, the devout soldier challenges Mephistopheles and his protégé, Faust, to avenge his sister’s honor, but finds the sword is no match for satanic power. His role is played by Jason Detwiler, whose career has encompassed over thirty leading roles from San Diego to Virginia. This year North Idaho also gets to meet Michele Detwiler as Dr. Faust’s student,

Bass Jamie Offenbach and soprano Shana Blake Hill.

Siebel. Critics have described her as 'amber-voiced,' a 'velvety mezzo soprano.' 'riveting,' 'holding center stage commandingly.' Stage directing will be by Aaron St. Clair Nicholson, a frequent lead singer at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Acclaimed throughout North America for both singing and acting, he debuted as a singer at the Met under the direction of the famed Placido Domingo. His concept for this performance of Faust includes the mists and long dark shadows of German impressionism, similar to the feel of the original Dracula movie." [Source] Performances will be at North Idaho College on Friday, September 23 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, September 25 at 2:00 PM.