Berlioz: La Damnation De Faust [Box set]

Hector Berlioz (Composer), Charles Dutoit (Conductor), Francoise Pollet (Performer), Richard Leech (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Francoise Pollet, Richard Leech
• Conductor: Charles Dutoit
• Composer: Hector Berlioz
• Audio CD (September 17, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: London / Decca
• ASIN: B00000427E
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,111 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Part One, Scene I: Le Vieil Hiver A Fait Place Au Printemps - Richard Leech

2. Part One, Scene II. Ronde Des Paysans: Les Bergers Laissent Leurs Troupeaux - Chor De L'Orch Sym De Montreal/Iwan Edwards/Richard Leech

3. Part One, Scene III: Mais D'un Eclat Guerrier Les Campagnes Se Parent - Richard Leech

4. Part One, Scene III: Marche Hongroise - Orch Sym de Montreal/Charles Dutoit

5. Part Two, Scene IV: Sans Regrets J'ai Quitte Les Riantes Campagnes - Richard Leech

6. Part Two, Scene IV. Chant De La Fete De Paques: Christ Vient De Ressusciter! - Chor De L'Orch Sym De Montreal/Iwan Edwards/Richard Leech

7. Part Two, Scene V: O Pure Emotion! Enfant Du Saint Parvis! - Gilles Cachemaille/Richard Leech

8. Part Two, Scene VI: A Boire Encor! Du Vin! - Chor De L'Orch Sym De Montreal/Iwan Edwards/Gilles Cachemaille

9. Part Two, Scene VI. Chor De Buveurs: Oh! Qu'il Fait Bon - Chor De L'Orch Sym De Montreal/Iwan Edwards/Michel Philippe

10. Part Two, Scene VI. Chanson De Brander: Certain Rat, Dans Une Cuisine - Michel Philippe/Chor De L'Orch Sym De Montreal/Iwan Edwards/Gilles Cachemaille

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Part Three: Tambours Et Trompettes Sonnant La Retraite - Orch Sym de Montreal/Charles Dutoit

2. Part Three, Scene IX. Air De Faust: Merci, Doux Crepuscule! Oh! Sois Le Bienvenu! - Richard Leech

3. Part Three, Scene X: Je L'entends! - Gilles Cachemaille/Richard Leech

4. Part Three, Scene XI: Que L'Air Est Etouffant! - Francoise Pollet

5. Part Three, Scene XI. Le Roi De Thule (Chanson Gothique): Autrefois Un Roi De Thule - Francoise Pollet/Neal Gripp

6. Part Three, Scene XII. Evocation: Esprits Des Flammes Inconstantes - Gilles Cachemaille

7. Part Three, Scene XII: Menuets Des Follets - Gilles Cachemaille

8. Part Three, Scene XII. Ser De Mephistopheles Et Chor Des Follets: Devant La Maison, De Celui Qui... - Gilles Cachemaille/Chor De L'Orch Sym De Montreal/Iwan Edwards

9. Part Three, Scene XIII. Duo: Grand Dieu! - Francoise Pollet/Richard Leech

10. Part Three, Scene XIV. Trio Et Chor: Allons, Il Est Trop Tard! - Gilles Cachemaille/Francoise Pollet/Richard Leech/Chor De L'Orch Sym De Montreal/Iwan Edwards

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely the best, September 1, 2011

By 

Paul C. Lewis "paulsp2" (U.K.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Berlioz: La Damnation De Faust (Audio CD)

I would like to second the review of this recording by M. Villalobos. I have heard many performances over the years of this, one of my favourite works, and I absolutely agree that this is the finest I have yet encounted.
Robert Leech is simply the best Faust on disc, probably the high point of his career, the other solists are fine although I don't fully appreciate Francoise Pollet's Margeruite, she sounds too mature for the part though there is nothing wrong with her singing. Orchestra, chorus, recording, all stunning and Dutoit here proves he is one of the great Berlioz interpreters of recent times. Those who appreciate the special genius of Hector Berlioz might also investigate Dutoit's recording of the Gande Messe de Morts, another winner of what for me is probably the finest music ever written.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Mostly Unknown Sublime Faust in Perfect Sound and Fantastic Performance!, May 10, 2011

By 

M. Villalobos "villageofwolves" (Lodi, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Berlioz: La Damnation De Faust (Audio CD)

What a find! This mostly forgotten version of Berlioz's fantastic opera/oratorio hybrid is among the best on disc. It comes in beautifully boxed multi disc jewel case with full libretto and translations. The sonics are incomparable. Decca's mixing is near perfect. The sonics have the same qualities of natural detail as Solti's much loved recording of this same work but without the metallic tone that it suffers from due to being a very early outing of digital. Dutoit's has the warm sound of later digital. Incidentally the sound is much better than Chung's much over-hyped DG recording.. sorry but hearing Bryn Terfel whispering directly in my left ear all the time is hardly realistic or natural. Sonically Dutoit's is the best sounding Faust on disc.

Dutoit is a seasoned Berliozian and he does not disappoint here. His interpretation is lively and energetic and beautiful if a bit too precise at times and slightly stiff rhythmically. The real and pleasant surprise is Richard Leech as Faust. I think he's better than Kenneth Riegel for Solti as I never liked Riegel's gargly tone. Leech is fresher and brighter in tone than Gedda on Phillips for Colin Davis and can do anything technically Gedda can do. Trust me, Richard Leech steals the show in this recording - he's that good here. In my opinion no one can touch him as Faust on disc. Francoise Pollet's Marguerite is excellent but not the best I've heard that distinction would have to go to von Otter on DG for Chung and of older recordings Janet Baker with Pretre. Still Pollet has a very nice sounding voice if a bit lacking in control but she expresses very well. She reminds me a bit of Veasey on the Davis disc only without the sour tone. I've never liked von Stade that much on Solti's. I've always thought her voice too lyrical and frail. I like Pollet's more luxurious sound better but she still captures Marguerite`s innocence. Gilles Cachemaille does a fine Mephistopheles and he characterizes him well enough and his tone is very pleasant, unlike Terfel's nasally tone on Chung's. However, no one surpasses Van Dam for Solti - no one. The Montreal Symphony does a miraculous job here and the Chorus is simply sumptuous and really envelopes the listener. All in all this is a sublime version of a masterpiece... one of the most unique scores ever by one of the greatest of all composers. No Berlioz fan should be without this amazing recording! Overall, this is my favorite version on disc.