Tenor Jonas Kaufmann is riveting as the title character of Gounods popular opera seen in this Live in HD presentation of Des McAnuffs thrilling 2011 production that places the mythical and timeless story in an early 20thcentury setting René Pape as Méphistophélès is menacing and elegant in equal measure and Marina Poplavskaya delivers a searingly intense portrayal of the innocent Marguerite Russell Braun as her brother Valentin shines in his Act II aria On the podium Yannick NézetSéguin brings out all the lyricism and drama of Gounods score