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What would you trade for your wildest dreams? Young Faust makes a wicked bargain, but he has one hell of a time finding out the price. Berlioz’s opera The Damnation of Faust caused a scandal in 1846, and it’s still just as outrageous and as entertaining. Kazuki Yamada celebrates 50 years of the CBSO Chorus with the work they sang in their very first concert – and tonight the Devil really does have all the best tunes!

Berlioz called The Damnation of Faust a dramatic legend, inspired by a translation of Goethe's dramatic poem "Faust". The nature of its travelogue form and cosmic perspective make it an extreme challenge to stage. Berlioz himself was eager to see the work staged, but once he did, he conceded that the production techniques of his time were not up to the task of bringing the work to dramatic life. Most of the work's fame has come through concert performances like tonight's.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is joined by tenor Pene Pati in the title role, with mezzo-soprano Grace Durham as Marguerite, baritone Nahuel di Piero as Mephistopheles and bass Jonathan Lemalu as the student Brander.

Recorded at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on 13th April.

Presented by Elizabeth Alker.

Hector Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust

Pene Pati (tenor) [Faust]
Grace Durham (mezzo soprano) [Marguerite]
Nahuel di Pierro (baritone) [Mephistopheles]
Jonathan Lemalu (bass) [Brander]
Miku Yasukawa (soprano) [Celestial Voice]
CBSO Chorus
CBSO Youth Chorus
CBSO Children's Chorus
Tenors and Basses of The Hallé Choir
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Kazuki Yamada (conductor)