Devil of a job

If the devil loses his voice, what power remains? Plenty, as proven at last Thursday's opening night of NBR New Zealand Opera's season of Gounod's Faust at the Aotea Centre.

Russian bass singer Mikhail Svetlov, who plays the pivotal role of Mephistopheles, had a serious infection of the vocal cords and spent the day in hospital.

The opera company's new general director Aidan Lang came on stage before the curtains lifted and explained that as there was no understudy for the role, they had considered cancelling.

Svetlov went on stage anyway, acting out the devilish part with great charisma, and singing a substantial part of the libretto.

When certain sections were too demanding, he continued to act and "sing", while Auckland bass Grant Dickson sang from a score at the side of the stage, meaning Mephistopheles' voice was coming from the wrong direction but the audience was forgiving.

Svetlov is now fully recovered, and two more shows remain in the season, tomorrow and Saturday. Even at half-power Svetlov was magnetic. At full bass cry, the devil must be irresistible.