Berlioz's Faust: Vibrant Echoes in Murky Hall

Jakob Lehmann delivered an energetic Proms debut conducting Berlioz's concert setting of the Faust story. The period instrument orchestra Les Siècles brought a distinct grainy texture, from chattering piccolos to the ophicleide, enhancing the dramatic portrayal of Méphistophélès and the lullaby for Faust. The Hungarian March sounded particularly snappy.

Despite the orchestra's evocative playing and a strong cast including John Osborn as Faust, Véronique Gens as Marguerite, and Gerald Finley as Méphistophélès, the Royal Albert Hall's acoustics presented a significant challenge. The detailed and colourful passages of Berlioz's music sometimes merged into a blur, requiring more space or a crisper approach from Lehmann.

The large, 80-strong Choeur de Radio France also performed well, but their blended sound did not always cut ideally through the orchestral texture. The children's choir joined briefly in the closing moments, adding to the scale of the performance.