Yoel L. Arbeitman <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >Here are the details: >La Damnation de Faust: Feb.21&22, 1954. >Susan Danco (s); David Poleri (t); Martial Singher (bar), David Gramm >(bass); McHenry Boatwright (bass in the "Epilogue on Earth"). Having duly and with pleasure listened to the first of the two Romeo et Juliette performances, the Damnation de Faust performance, and the L'Enfance du Christ performance, I can now issue a warning that does not come unexpected to me. The orchestral playing and the magisterial conducting by a man who deeply loved Berlioz are all one would wish for. The sonics are superb as well. However the soloists in La Damnation de Faust range from acceptable to horrid. Since La Damnation is a quasi-opera this is not without consequence, to put it mildly. I find the tenor who sings Faust repulsive. I find Suzanne Danco barely adequate in this role. Singher as Mephistopheles and Gramm as Brander are not very interesting. In sum, I would never listen to this Damnation again. I know that there are many persons, particularly on non-vocal oriented lists, to whom the orchestra and conductor account for most of the performance. Not to me. I would strongly recommend 4 recordings, from abridged to complete in varying degrees. The one that is non-pareil and will always be so is the 1930 Coppola with the amazing Faust of Jose De Trevi and the Mephistopheles of Charles Panzera. This runs near 80 mins. on Pearl. Next best is Fournet's 1942 recording with the Faust of Georges Jouatte and the Mephistopheles of Paul Cabanel. I have this on Lys. Other transfers I have not heard. If you love French opera comme il faut, then these are the recordings. Markevitch's 1958 DG recording with the Faust of Richard Verreau and other fine singers is also highly worthwhile. I believe this is now released on a two-fer with Symphonie fantastique. Finally Wolff's 1948 live performance with the incomparable Marguerite of Suzanne Juyol and the Faust of Georges Jouatte (again) is something precious. I know of its commercial release only on Malibran CD-Rs which I have not heard. I have a private transfer made by a friend. In sum, the Munch box is delicious for the two R & J performances, for L'Enfance du Christ and for all the orchestral only works. I have not yet heard La Grande messe des Morts (Requiem) but expect much of it. To me the quasi-opera is unacceptable. Cheers, Yoel