Mefistofele, IAB 1: Prologue in Heaven (complete) [Alf:36-A473591]

After the completion of his studies at the Milan Conservatory, Arrigo Boito (1842-1918) decided to compose his own operatic version of Goethe's Faust. Perceiving what he saw to be artistic shortcomings in the Gounod opera, he wrote his own libretto after the manner of Richard Wagner. Inexperienced as a conductor, he took the podium for the premiere of MEFISTOFELE in Milan on March 5, 1868. The performance of the work with its daring chromaticism and sprawling length, over five hours long, was met with confusion and outrage. After only two performances, Boito withdrew to revise the work, drastically cutting it to two-thirds of its original length. The first performance of the revised version in Bologna in 1875 achieved for its composer a much belated success. Some small changes led to a final version which premiered in 1881. During the PROLOGUE IN HEAVEN, Mefistofele declares his intention to take Faust's soul. His challenge is accepted by the angels.