Little-known Bizet opera is a delight "The Faust Chamber Orchestra played superbly, making the most of Bizet's colorful instrumentation - there was some particularly good horn playing. The whole was directed convincingly by Mark Austin"
The Surrey Advertiser, October 2016
The Last Judgement review – Louis Spohr's forgotten oratorio is born again "Austin introduced the piece from the podium, and his affection for it was apparent in the eloquent intensity of his conducting. The woodwind and brass sounded particularly fine"
Tim Ashley in The Guardian, March 2016
"The music's charm and sincerity was evident in a performance lovingly assembled by the young conductor Mark Austin and respectably delivered by his Faust Chamber Orchestra, the Cambridge University Musical Society Chorus and four fine soloists"
Richard Morrison in The Times, March 2016
2015
"The Faust Ensemble played with great sensitivity sending shivers down the spine. [...] The musicians, soloists and conductor were as one during the entire piece, so beautifully was it played."
Buckinghamshire Advertiser, October 2015
2014
"Scored for the full range of strings and brass, plus percussion, Rudland's music conjured up in vividly dramatic terms the dangers that confront Pincher Martin in his battle with the ocean. The conductor Mark Austin drew a committed response from the Faust Ensemble."
Opera Magazine, October 2014
"In the pit, Mark Austin's Faust Ensemble incisively handled the scoring - string textures flecked with lone brass notes, percussion shivers and droplets of harp"
The Times, August 2014
2013
"A Faust for the ears"
Bucks Free Press, June 2013
"Faust Ensemble played with distinction and polish"
Opera Magazine, April 2013
"A cultured reading led by young conductor Mark Austin, with some particularly elegant woodwind and plenty of bounce all round"