Prom 31 - 8.08.17: Berlioz – The Damnation of Faust

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30 Tuesday 8 August 2017
Royal Albert Hall

Hector Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust
(sung in French)

Michael Spyres Faust
Ann Hallenberg Marguerite
Laurent Naouri Méphistophélès
Ashley Riches Brander
Trinity Boys Choir
Monteverdi Choir
National Youth Choir of Scotland
Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique
Sir John Eliot Gardiner conductor


Sir John Eliot Gardiner returns to the Proms with The Damnation of Faust, continuing his multi-season Berlioz series. Part opera, part cantata, this 'dramatic legend' is an epic retelling of the Faust story that captures the extremes of man's ambition and folly in music by turns exquisite and grotesque. American tenor Michael Spyres returns to the Proms in the title-role, with Swedish mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenberg as the innocent victim, Marguerite.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It could, of course, be semi-staged.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It could, of course, be semi-staged.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Berlioz and Musorgsky within a couple of nights of each other - marvellous.

[BBMmk2]

This should be very good!!

[Darkbloom]

I can understand why Romeo gets performed so rarely (nothing to do with its quality, just difficult to place) but Faust hasn't been done for at least ten years at the Proms and I don't understand why. I think I was at the last one; Levine and the Boston SO, with an all but inaudible Jose van Dam as Mephistopheles.

[Petrushka]

I can understand why Romeo gets performed so rarely (nothing to do with its quality, just difficult to place) but Faust hasn't been done for at least ten years at the Proms and I don't understand why. I think I was at the last one; Levine and the Boston SO, with an all but inaudible Jose van Dam as Mephistopheles.

I was present at a 1989 Prom with Solti and the Chicago SO and Jose van Dam was one of the excellent soloists then too. I was lucky enough to creep into the morning rehearsal as well at a time when you could do such things. Watching Solti was a real education.

The Damnation of Faust is one of those pieces I'm never quite sure about and haven't heard it in years.

[greenilex]

Could a kind boarder post a link to the French libretto?

You would be doing me a favour...

[Bryn]

Could a kind boarder post a link to the French libretto?

You would be doing me a favour...

How about French and English?

[jayne lee wilson]

I was present at a 1989 Prom with Solti and the Chicago SO and Jose van Dam was one of the excellent soloists then too. I was lucky enough to creep into the morning rehearsal as well at a time when you could do such things. Watching Solti was a real education.

The Damnation of Faust is one of those pieces I'm never quite sure about and haven't heard it in years.

I recall taping that one on an Aiwa Ghettoblaster :: I had to keep the volume at zero to avoid comically audible tape-echo, only listening to it later - fell madly in love with the work then, from the very first melody, that great cinematic sweep across the plains - probably still my favourite Berlioz piece - just hope my vocal-averse ears can cope with it now...

[greenilex]

Many thanks, Bryn.

[BBMmk2]

Has JEGGERS recorded this?

[Darkbloom]

Has JEGGERS recorded this?

Yes, about twenty years ago, from memory. Richard Leech as Faust, Gilles Cachemaille as Mephistopheles.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yes, about twenty years ago, from memory. Richard Leech as Faust, Gilles Cachemaille as Mephistopheles.

Oh - was that ERATO? There's also the PHILIPS recordings, with ASvO:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Berlioz-Damnation-Faust-Gardiner-Anne-Sofie/dp/B01KAPOX7U

(I've said before how I think JEGgers is much better in French repertoire than in German - his Berlioz is superb. This version uses modern instruments - was the other OR&R, D'bloom?)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Actually, the Leech, Cachemaille recording was with Dutoit and the Montreal SO