I was fortunate enough to travel down to Birmingham’s Symphony Hall last weekend as part of a performance of The Damnation of Faust! The first piece ever performed by the CBSO Chorus 50 years ago, it tells the tale of a disenchanted Faust who falls into a deal with the devil, with the ultimate price to pay as a consequence! Tenors and Basses from the Halle Choir bolstered the CBSO forces to sing as soldiers, students, rowdy drinkers, demons and finally angelic seraphim. I managed to take a cheeky photo of the orchestra rehearsing during on of the choir breaks, with Kazuki Yamada conducting.

 

The performance was recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 last Wednesday. You can listen to it on catchup here if you fancy experiencing a “Dramatic Legend” (Berlioz’s words).