Live from the Barbican - Berlioz's The Damnation of Faust 17.09.17

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

6.00 p.m.

Sir Simon Rattle conducts Berlioz's The Damnation of Faust - live from the Barbican Hall
As part of the celebrations to mark his inaugural season as Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon conducts Berlioz's 'dramatic legend,' a tale that captures the extremes of man's ambition and folly. Berlioz's fantastical setting of Goethe's Faust is, as Rattle says, "A dramatic legend waiting for cinema which needs to be experienced live...within forty-five seconds, you're in an ecstatic world."
Presented by Martin Handley as part of Rattle at Radio 3

Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust

Marguerite ..... Karen Cargill (mezzo-soprano)
Faust ..... Bryan Hymel (tenor)
Mephistopheles ..... Christopher Purves (baritone)
Brander ..... Gábor Bretz (baritone)
London Symphony Chorus, Simon Halsey (chorus director)
Tiffin Boys' Choir, Girls' Choir and Children's Chorus, James Day (Tiffin choirs director)
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle (conductor)

[Darkbloom]

6.00 p.m.

Sir Simon Rattle conducts Berlioz's The Damnation of Faust - live from the Barbican Hall
As part of the celebrations to mark his inaugural season as Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon conducts Berlioz's 'dramatic legend,' a tale that captures the extremes of man's ambition and folly. Berlioz's fantastical setting of Goethe's Faust is, as Rattle says, "A dramatic legend waiting for cinema which needs to be experienced live...within forty-five seconds, you're in an ecstatic world."
Presented by Martin Handley as part of Rattle at Radio 3

Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust

Marguerite ..... Karen Cargill (mezzo-soprano)
Faust ..... Bryan Hymel (tenor)
Mephistopheles ..... Christopher Purves (baritone)
Brander ..... Gábor Bretz (baritone)
London Symphony Chorus, Simon Halsey (chorus director)
Tiffin Boys' Choir, Girls' Choir and Children's Chorus, James Day (Tiffin choirs director)
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle (conductor)

I thought Gerald Finley was Mephistopheles. He must have pulled out. Anyway, looking forward to this. I hope it's a bit less fussy than the JEG the other week, but with Rattle that might be a forlorn hope.

[BBMmk2]

I rather like this work. It's not performed all that often. A great pity. This should be a very good opportunity to hear this work,.

[Petrushka]

I thought Gerald Finley was Mephistopheles. He must have pulled out.

He has appendicitis and has had to withdraw.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I rather like this work. It's not performed all that often. A great pity. This should be a very good opportunity to hear this work,.

Less than six weeks since it was performed (and broadcast) from the Proms, Bbm. (And I've got my ticket for the Opera North performance in Leeds Town Hall next May )

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

(And I've got my ticket for the Opera North performance in Leeds Town Hall next May )

I hear they're change their name to Cantata North.

[Darkbloom]

Highly enjoyable so far. Rattle's really making it sound like one long span rather than the series of episodes we got at the Proms. Hymel is a beefier Faust than we usually hear, but I am enjoying it, even if his nasal sound won't appeal to everyone. Purves blends in well with Rattle's approach so we don't miss the extra bit of star quality that Finley would have brought.

[BBMmk2]

I hear they're change their name to Cantata North.

I must have missed that Prom performance, Ferney!!

[BBMmk2]

I hear they're change their name to Cantata North.

I must have missed that Prom performance, Ferney!!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I hear they're change their name to Cantata North.

You're not, I trust, suggesting that La Damnation de Faust should be performed in an Opera House, are you, Alpie?

But - serves me right: I switched on at seven-thirty to listen - and they're half-way to Hell already! (I must pay attention to listing details.)

[Darkbloom]

I didn't enjoy the second half quite as much. I don't think Karen Cargill was right for Marguerite; fine in the lyrical passages but shrill and hooty under pressure. Hymel coped as well as could be expected with some of that crazily high-lying music.

[David-G]

I was in the hall. First half was a washout because the stage was built forward, and from the left wing of the stalls I couldn't see or hear a thing because the eight double-basses on platforms were located front-stage on the left, forming a wall that cut out sound and view. I changed position after the interval - and the second half was superb. All three singers very fine. Karen Cargill didn't sound shrill or hooty to me in the slightest. Christopher Purves seriously menacing as Mephistopheles. There was a standing ovation and it was well deserved.

A superb work. My third performance in six weeks!

[Darkbloom]

The LSO put an interesting clip on Twitter of their principal oboe having oboe problems (presumably a reed went awry, or whatever happens to oboes) during the Ride to the Abyss, and quickly snatching one from his neighbour before anyone noticed.

[pastoralguy]

The LSO put an interesting clip on Twitter of their principal oboe having oboe problems (presumably a reed went awry, or whatever happens to oboes) during the Ride to the Abyss, and quickly snatching one from his neighbour before anyone noticed.

Yes, I saw that. The reed split in two!