Berlioz Damnation of Faust Review: Vivid Proms Performance 2026

The Berlioz Damnation of Faust review captures a vivid Proms performance by Les Siècles and conductor Jakob Lehmann, blending period instruments with soaring solos. This concert staging brought Berlioz's dramatic oratorio to life with a sharp-suited demon and colorful orchestration.

Berlioz wrote his setting of the Faust story for concert performance, counting on the fact that what went on in his audience’s mind’s eye would be more fantastical than anything that could be portrayed on stage. The forces he employed aren’t on the same scale as those for his Requiem – written almost a decade earlier, in 1837, and heard here earlier this month – but are still huge. Here they came in the form of the period-instrument orchestra Les Siècles, plus the Choeur de Radio France and, joining in the closing five minutes, the Radio France children’s choir – conducted by Jakob Lehmann, making an energised Proms debut.

Period Instruments and Vivid Orchestration

Les Siècles’ period instruments brought their own grainy texture to the palette, from the chattering piccolos representing Méphistophélès’s malignant spirits and the silky violin swoops lulling Faust to sleep, down to the inclusion in the orchestra of an ophicleide, an instrument that’s an evolutionary dead end on the tuba’s family tree. The Hungarian March sounded snappy, as did the brass fanfares, echoed at one point by a small band up in the gallery.

Yet alongside the vividly colourful passages were some that made you wish you could pick the performance up and put it down in a different, less tricky venue. In this very particular hall, Berlioz’s teemingly detailed music often needed more space from Lehmann or a crisper, more forensic approach to ensemble.

Soaring Solos and Dramatic Highlights

The soloists delivered standout moments, with the tenor's Faust conveying both longing and despair, while the bass-baritone's Méphistophélès exuded a sharp-suited menace. The soprano's Marguerite brought ethereal beauty to her arias, particularly in the poignant 'D'amour l'ardente flamme'. The children's choir added a haunting innocence to the final scenes.

Comparison of Performance Elements

Key Takeaways from the Performance

• Les Siècles' period instruments provided a unique, authentic sound.
• Jakob Lehmann's Proms debut was energetic and promising.
• The soloists delivered memorable, soaring performances.
• The venue's acoustics posed challenges for ensemble clarity.
• Berlioz's dramatic storytelling was vividly realized.

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