2 CD-SET

Hector Berlioz La damnation de Faust The Radio Philharmonic Orchestra & The Netherlands Radio Choir Bernard Haitink Thomas Quasthoff | Charlotte Margiono | Vinson Cole | Jaco Huijpen Hector Berlioz Recorded live on 29 and 30 June 1999, in the ‘Grote Zaal’ of the Concertgebouw, La damnation de Faust Carte Blanche series Bernard Haitink Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra This cd has been made possible through the disinterested support of: & Netherlands Radio Choir Bernard Haitink, Charlotte Margiono, Vinson Cole, Thomas Quasthoff, Bernard Haitink Jaco Huijpen, Challenge Records Int., TROS/Radio 4 en Albersen Verhuur B.V. Cd-mastering: Freek Sluijs, Muziekcentrum van de Omroep Photo: © Hollandse Hoogte | Translation: Carol Stennes (Muse translations) Art direction & Graphic Design: Marcel van den Broek, new-art.nl Charlotte Margiono, soprano, Marguerite | Vinson Cole, tenor, Faust Thomas Quasthoff, baritone, Méphistophélès | Jaco Huijpen, bass, Brander www.challengerecords.com / www.radiofilharmonischorkest.nl Rehearsal Netherlands Radio Choir: Martin Wright HECTOR BERLIOZ (1803-1869) La Damnation de Faust (1845-1846)

CD 1

Première partie Scène 1 [1] Plaines de Hongrie 6:10 [10] Chanson de Méphistophélès: ‘Une puce gentille’ 4:22 Scène 2 Scène 7 [2] Ronde des paysans 4:14 [11] Air de Méphistophélès: ‘Voici des roses’ 2:55 Scène 3 [12] Chœur de gnomes et de sylphes. Songe de Faust: [3] Marche hongroise 4:53 ‘Dors, heureux Faust’ 7:01 [13] Ballet des sylphes 2:39 Deuxième partie [14] Faust: ‘Margarita!’ 1:12 Scène 4 Scène 8 [4] Nord d’Allemagne 4:59 [15] Chœurs de soldats et chanson d’étudiants 5:48 [5] Chant de la fête de Pâques 7:35 Scène 5 total time: 61:59 [6] Méphistophélès et Faust: ‘O pure émotion’ 2:41 Scène 6 [7] Chœur de buveurs: ‘A boire encore!’ 2:31 [8] Chanson de Brander: ‘Certain rat, dans une cuisine’ 3:37 [9] ‘Vrai Dieu! Messieurs, votre fugue’ 1:22 Cd 2

Troisième partie Quatrième partie Scène 9 Scène 15 [1] La retraite 1:09 [11] Romance. Marguerite: ‘D’amour l’ardente flamme’ 10:46 [2] Air de Faust: ‘Merci, doux crépuscule’ 5:53 Scène 16 Scène 10 [12] Invocation à la nature 5:13 [3] Méphistophélès et Faust 1:03 Scène 17 Scène 11 [13] Récitatif et chasse 3:42 [4] Marguerite: ‘Que l’air est étouffant’ 3:07 Scène 18 [5] Le roi de Thulé 5:30 [14] La course à l’abîme 3:19 Scène 12 Scène 19 [6] Évocation 1:53 [15] Pandæmonium 4:26 [7] Menuet des follets 6:14 [16] Épilogue sur la terre 1:29 [8] Sérénade de Méphistophélès 2:20 [17] Dans le ciel 11:40 Scène 13 [9] Final. Duo, trio et chœur 5:52 total time: 79:22 Scène 14 [10] Trio et chœur 5:45 Let the Netherlands Haitink. NRC Handelsblad published Concertgebouw, during the celebration grin by under Jaap Broadcasting Music Centre be a letter to the editor in which the of the 65th anniversary of the Radio Phil- van Zweden and La damnation de maestro solemnly explained his harmonic. Martijn Sanders attended the Faust by Hector Berlioz with Bernard The Radio Philharmonic Orchestra is arguments (18 October 2010). Bernard celebration as a member of the MCO’s Haitink. All three were performed by part of the Netherlands Broadcasting Haitink began his career as a violinist Council of Ambassadors. The ambassa- the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Centre (MCO), as are the with the Radio Symphony Orchestra, dors, from business, politics and culture, the Netherlands Radio Choir. Radio Chamber Philharmonic, the did a training course for conductors promote the MCO and advise manage- Netherlands Radio Choir and the given by the Radio Union and was ment and staff. As the interview progressed, the Metropole Orchestra. appointed principal conductor of the idea emerged to release a CD of Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in 1957. that memorable performance of The 65th anniversary of the Radio Martijn Sanders on the reason Berlioz’s masterpiece – a magnificent Philharmonic fell in November 2010. Among the historic moments Haitink behind the release of this CD document with two top-level ensem- This good news was overshadowed by shared with the ensembles of the MCO On the occasion of the 65th anniversary bles, four phenomenal vocalists and the intention, announced by the new are the concerts held in the Grote Zaal of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra a conductor of world fame, who government one month earlier, to do of ’s Concertgebouw on 29 I was interviewed in my capacity as started his career before the Radio away with the MCO. The MCO called and 30 June 1999. Haitink conducted ambassador of the MCO about my Philharmonic. La damnation de Faust attention to its impending shutdown in the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the best musical memories of the MCO was one of the concerts in the Carte several campaigns and with a website Netherlands Radio Choir and vocal so- ensembles while I was director of the Blanche series for Bernard Haitink. launched especially for this purpose. A loists Thomas Quasthoff, Charlotte Mar- Concertgebouw. hundred thousand responses poured giono, Vinson Cole and Jaco Huijpen An additional reason to release this in from the Netherlands and abroad. in Berlioz’s La damnation de Faust. It Three productions immediately came CD right now is the incomprehensible One of them was an impassioned was this performance that was cited by to mind: Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder intention of the Dutch government declaration of support from Bernard Martijn Sanders, former director of the conducted by , Lohen- simply to “do away with” the entire MCO (Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Letter from Bernard Haitink Leitner and Willem van Otterloo. I owe will not bring the solution to those Radio Chamber Philharmonic, my first steps in the field of conduct- problems one step closer. My work Netherlands Radio Choir, Metropole Cultural monument ing to these experienced masters, and my passion take me all over Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Music dumped by the wayside ultimately resulting in my appointment the world. This enables me to say Library and MCO Education). It would ‘It was with utter shock and amazement as principal conductor of the Radio that people look with admiration be utterly disastrous if this intention that I heard that one sentence in the Philharmonic Orchestra. at the level of musical life in the were to be carried out – in the first coalition agreement of the new Dutch Netherlands. The ensembles of the place, for the people directly involved, government: “The MCO (Muziek- I am not one to use big words, but MCO have their own clear-cut place but equally so for the world of music centrum voor de Omroep) will be now it cannot be avoided: if this in it, thanks in part to the fact that in the Netherlands and all over the discontinued”. In these few words a decision comes to be implemented, they play very distinctive repertoire to world. The role of the MCO is unique cultural monument is ruthlessly written I will regard it as a shameless outrage. a high standard, and are everywhere and the quality of its ensembles is at off, without any reasons being given, Why? In fact I should not even need to respected and admired. I cannot and an international level. What it means is without any sense of what would be explain. But evidently an explanation will not explain in other countries why that the MCO has a very great added lost in this way. In fact its name was not is needed. The moral condition of a two fantastic orchestras, the extra- value, and this would be lost forever. even stated correctly: Muziekcentrum society can generally be gauged by ordinary Netherlands Radio Choir and We cannot allow this to happen. van de Omroep. The error shows that its flourishing cultural life. History gives the Metropole Orchestra must be this was very likely a hasty step. us plenty of examples. Such a measure sacrificed. And so I make an urgent Let this CD be living proof of that. is therefore a bad omen for the state appeal: do not carry out this decision. My own career started in the world of of things to come in the Netherlands. Let the MCO be.’ Martijn Sanders broadcasting, with the MCO. Twice I took part in the training for conduc- Of course none of us can ignore (NRC Handelsblad, 18 October 2010) tors organised by the broadcasting economic reality, including myself. organisations and taught by Ferdinand But carrying out this amputation CC72517