BERLIOZ

La Damnation de Faust

CD1:

Part 1

1. Scene 1 - Plaines de Hongrie

2. Scene 2 - Ronde des paysans

3. Scene 3 - Marche hongroise

Part 2

4-5. Scene 4 - Nord d’Allemagne / Chant de la fête de Pâques

6. Scene 5 - ‘O pure émotion’

7-10. Scène 6 - ‘A boire encore!’ / ‘Certain rat, dans une cuisine’ / ‘Vrai Dieu! Messieurs,

votre fugue’ / ‘Une puce gentille’

11-14. Scene 7 - ‘Voici des roses’ / ‘Dors, heureux Faust’ / Ballet des sylphs / ‘Margarita!’

15. Scène 8 - chanson d’étudiants

CD2:

Part 3

1-2. Scene 9 - La retraite / ‘Merci, doux crépuscule’

3. Scene 10 - Méphistophélès et Faust

4-5. Scene 11 - ‘Que l’air est étouffant’ / Le roi de Thulé

6-8. Scene 12 – Évocation / Menuet des follets / Sérénade de Méphistophélès

9. Scene 13 - Final. Duo, trio et choeur

10. Scene 14 - Trio et choeur

Part 4

11. Scene 15 - ‘D’amour l’ardente flamme’

12 Scene 16 - Invocation à la nature

13. Scene 17 - Récitatif et chasse

14. Scene 18 - La course à l'abîme

15-17 Scene 19 – Pandæmonium / Épilogue sur la terre / Dans le ciel

The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra,

The Netherlands Radio Choir / Bernard Haitink

Charlotte Margiono (soprano),

Vincon Cole (tenor),

Thomas Quasthoff (baritone),

Jaco Huijpen (bass)

This memorable performance of Berlioz's masterpiece The Damnation of Faust was recorded in 1999, and is being released for the first time on CD to support the campaign against the Dutch government’s plans to abolish the Muziekcentrum van de Omroep (MCO) and its orchestras - which include the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic. The conductor is the legendary Bernard Haitink, who began his career with the orchestra, and the soloists include Vinson Cole and Thomas Quastoff.

The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra gave its first concert on 7 October 1945. Initially it spent most of its time in studios working on a large number of recordings for the public broadcasting system. Illustrious soloists such as Kathleen Ferrier, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Clara Haskil and Jean-Pierre Rampal have shared the stage with the orchestra. In 1956 Bernard Haitink became a guest conductor with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and he was appointed the principal conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in the following year. Since then, during an illustrious career, he has been chief conductor with, amongst others, the Concertgebouw orchestra, the London Philharmonic and more recently the Chicago Symphony orchestra. He has also had a long standing relationship with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Hector Berlioz’s “dramatic legend” was first performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 6th December 1846. It is based on a poem by Goethe, and features four solo voices, full seven-part chorus, large children's chorus and orchestra.

Challenge Classics 2cds CC72517