Liszt’s Faust Symphony
Franz Liszt wrote a beautiful Faust Symphony with three movements. The first is “Faust,” the second is “Gretchen,” and the third is “Méphistofélès.” Be sure to note the way each character’s theme reflects his role, and how the themes of Faust and Méphistofélès change over the course of the symphony as the story unfolds. Here is the symphony below, in a series of 9 connected videos (total running time is 79:51). You may listen to this in the background as you read.
“Alexis Hauser conducts McGill Symphony Orchestra & Sinfonietta Montreal, with the men of the McGill University Chorus, François Ouimet, Director. Kevin Myers, tenor solo, class of Stefano Algieri. Performance at the Pollack Hall of McGill University on April 8, 2011, in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Franz Liszt (1811-1886)” –Credits from the original Youtube posting
