Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest . Groot Omroepkoor . Valery Gergiev

The French composer Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) held 'Faust', the play by the German poet and playwright Goethe, in high regard almost all his life. Goethe saw in the life of this intriguing figure (based on the supposed fortunes of the mediaeval German alchemist of that name)a combination of the whole spectrum of human and superhuman emotions and philosophical questions. The two plays he wove around this loner who yearned for love and happiness are masterpieces of profound theatricality. Two years after the first French translation appeared, Berlioz was ready with his 'Huit Scènes de Faust' for the concert platform. But it was not until 1845 that he rewrote the entire play as music. 'La Damnation de Faust' was nevertheless neither musical theatre nor opera. Berlioz, always eager for ambiguity and controversy, at first had the subtitle 'opéra de concert' in mind, but ultimately opted for the even vaguer 'légende dramatique'.