FAUST CHAMBER ORCHESTRA MAKES ACCLAIMED DEBUTS IN LONDON AND CAMBRIDGE WITH THE LAST JUDGEMENT
17 MARCH 2016
Together with the Cambridge University Musical Society Chorus and four talented young soloists, all under the baton of Artistic Director Mark Austin, Faust Chamber Orchestra revived Spohr's The Last Judgement at LSO St Luke's, London and West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge in two successful performances on 4 and 6 March 2016.
'The music's charm and sincerity was evident in a performance
lovingly assembled by the young conductor Mark Austin'
Richard Morrison reports in The Times
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After a spoken introduction from Mark Austin, explaining the background to this long-neglected piece and the importance of Spohr's oratorio in the history of music, the 36-player Faust Chamber Orchestra began the performance with the vibrant opening 'Ouverture'. The next numbers saw the Cambridge University Musical Society Chorus, and then soprano Rosalind Coad, baritone Adam Green, tenor Bradley Smith and mezzo-soprano Anna Harvey join to create a wonderful musical whole. |
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In an almost-sold out LSO St Luke's, the first performance of The Last Judgement in living memory was a resounding success acclaimed by the audience and several high-profile reviews:
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'a strong case for a neglected work'
'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'
'There was beautifully focused choral singing'
'Four fine soloists'
(about Anna Harvey) 'her rich tone and sensitive phrasing', 'her rich sound, idiomatic German and calm, devotional stage presence'
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The second performance at West Road Concert Hall in Cambridge was equally thrilling and appreciated by both audience and performers. |
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This concert project marks a significant step in the development of Faust Chamber Orchestra, consisting of debut performances in two major concert venues and the widely-acclaimed rediscovery of a rare piece.
Faust Chamber Orchestra will be making its debut at Kings Place Hall One on 25 September 2016 with 'Classicism according to Cherubino', a programme including Schubert's Symphony no.3, Prokoviev's 'Classical' Symphony, Mozart's Oboe Concerto and featuring mezzo-soprano Katie Bray in arias by Mozart and Rossini.
