Opera on 3

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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

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Music: Classical: Opera

Programme presenting rare and fascinating operatic performances

Programme presenting rare and fascinating performances and vividly communicating the immediacy of the live experience

Opera on 3: La Damnation de Faust

La Damnation de Faust

BBC Radio 3 - Opera on 3, La Damnation de Faust

The Vienna Philhamonic perform Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust in Salzburg.

Alain Altinoglu conducts the Vienna Philhamonic in Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust at the 2021 Salzburg Festival. Charles Castronovo sings Faust with Elina Garanca as Marguerite.

Vienna Philharmonic at the 2021 Salzburg Festival: Berlioz' La Damnation de Faust.

Over the next two weeks Opera on 3 presents two French takes on the Faust legend, in which the hero exchanges his soul for unlimited knowledge.  Today: a concert presentation of Berlioz’s compelling and imaginative version - like the masterpiece it's based on, wild and grandiose but also intimately beautiful.

The cast is an ideal line-up of stars: tenor Charles Castronovo sings the doomed and besotted Faust, with the dazzling mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca as his forsaken lover Marguerite and bass Ildar Abdrazakov as the malevolent Méphistophélès.  Alain Altinoglu conducts.    

Presented by Tom Service, in conversation with William Mival.

Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, op. 24, dramatic legend in four parts

Marguerite: Elina Garanca, mezzo-soprano 
Faust: Charles Castronovo, tenor
Méphistophélès: Ildar Abdrazakov, bass
Brander: Peter Kellner, bass-baritone
Vienna State Opera Chorus Concert Association
Salzburg Festival and Theatre Children's Choir
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Alain Altinoglu, conductor

In Opera on 3 at the same time next week: Gounod's Faust

Image: © SF / Marco Borrelli

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