London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle – Berlioz: La damnation de Faust (2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle – Berlioz: La damnation de Faust (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:06:08 minutes | 2,44 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © LSO Live

Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra mark 150 years since the death of Hector Berlioz with his tempestuous oratorio, La damnation de Faust.

La damnation de Faust is a work born of the composer’s obsession with Goethe’s legendary tale. Once a righteous scholar, Faust allows himself to be corrupted by the devil, and drags the innocent around him into desperation and death. It’s a fable that defies definition – both a tragedy and dark comedy, with a central character both wise and despicable, and a play and epic poem in one.

“This is Rattle” is the name of a ten-day festival organised in 2017 at the Barbican Centre in London to celebrate Sir Simon Rattle’s return to the country and his debut at the elm of the London Symphony Orchestra. One of the high points was the presentation of Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust, performed twice, a piece Rattle knows in fact very well and also conducted in Berlin. Half opera, half cantata, the work wasn’t intended to be performed on stage. Very much like in the Symphonie fantastique, written fifteen years earlier, and his upcoming opera Benvenuto Cellini, La Damnation de Faust is largely autobiographical; Berlioz identifies with Faust’s metaphysical suffering, between disillusioned idealism, forbidden love and internal demons. The London Symphony Orchestra is very familiar with Berlioz, having performed his work many times since the 1970s under the lead of its former conductor, the late Sir Colin Davis. Standout performances include American tenor Bryan Hymel as Faust and British mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill, radiant in the role of Marguerite, once again displaying the excellent French diction of international singers. Replacing Gerald Finley at the last minute, Christopher Purves plays a particularly elegant Mephisto. Yet another contribution to the discography put together on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the bubbling French composer’s passing.  – François Hudry

Tracklist:
1-01. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. I, Scène I – “Le vieil hiver” (05:35)
1-02. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. I, Scène II & III – Ronde de paysans. “Les bergers laissent … Mais d’un éclat guerrier” (04:24)
1-03. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111, Pt. I, Scène III: Marche hongroise (Hungarian March) (04:53)
1-04. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène IV – “Sans regrets j’ai quitté les riantes campagnes” (04:50)
1-05. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène IV – Chant de la Fête de Pâques. “Christ vient de ressusciter!” (05:29)
1-06. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène IV – “Hélas! doux chants du ciel” (01:13)
1-07. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène V – “Ô pure émotion!” (02:26)
1-08. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène VI – “A boire encor!” (02:35)
1-09. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène VI – Chanson de Brander. “Certain rat, dans une cuisine” (02:01)
1-10. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène VI – Fugue. “Amen” (01:30)
1-11. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène VI – “Vrai dieu! messieurs” (01:19)
1-12. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène VI – Chanson de Méphistophélès. “Une puce gentille” (01:30)
1-13. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène VI – “Assez! fuyons ces lieux” (02:27)
1-14. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène VII – Air de Méphistophélès. “Voici des roses” (02:20)
1-15. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène VII – Choeur de gnomes et de sylphes. Songe de Faust. “Dors! heureux Faust” (05:55)
1-16. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène VII – Ballet des sylphes (02:34)
1-17. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène VII – “Margarita!” (01:14)
1-18. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. II, Scène VIII – Final. “Villes entourées” – Chanson d’étudiants. ” Jam nox stellata velamina pandit” (04:26)
1-19. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. III, Scène IX – Prélude (01:02)
1-20. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. III, Scène IX – Air de Faust. “Merci, doux crépuscule!” (05:11)
1-21. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. III, Scène X – “Je l’entends!” (01:05)
1-22. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. III, Scène XI – “Que l’air est étouffant!” (02:53)
1-23. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. III, Scène XI – Le roi de Thulé. “Autrefois un roi de Thulé” (05:20)
1-24. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. III, Scène XII – Evocation. “Esprits des flammes inconstantes” (01:52)
1-25. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. III, Scène XII – Menuet des follets (Minuet of the Will-o’-the-Wisps) (05:44)
1-26. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. III, Scène XII – “Maintenant, chantons a cette belle” – Sérénade de Méphistophélès “Devant la maison” (02:46)
1-27. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. III, Scène XIII – Final. “Grand Dieu! … Ange adoré” (05:17)
1-28. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. III, Scène XIV – “Allons, il est trop tard! … Je connais donc enfin” (04:47)
1-29. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. IV, Scène XV – Romance. “D’amour l’ardente flamme” (08:18)
1-30. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. IV, Scène XV – “Au son des trompettes” (02:14)
1-31. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. IV, Scène XVI – Invocation à la nature. “Nature immense” (04:55)
1-32. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. IV, Scène XVII – Récitatif et chasse. “A la voûte azurée” (03:30)
1-33. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. IV, Scène XVIII – La course à l’abîme. “Dans mon coeur retentit sa voix” (03:33)
1-34. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. IV, Scène XIX – Pandaemonium. “Has! Irimiru Karabrao! … Tradioun Marexil” (04:03)
1-35. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. IV, Scène XIX – Epilogue. “Alors, l’enfer se tut” (01:15)
1-36. London Symphony Orchestra – La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24, H. 111: Pt. IV, Scène XX – Dans le ciel. “Laus! Hosanna!” – Apothéose de Marguerite. “Remonte au ciel, âme naïve” (05:27)

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

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