CD case front
photo by Styrous®
Louis-Hector Berlioz was born on this date, December 11, in 1803. As my tribute to him I've chosen the aria, The King of Thule from his work, La damnation de Faust. The aria is up there with the most beautiful melodies in the repertoire of opera.
CD case back
photo by Styrous®
This version, sung by mezzo-soprano, Frederica von Stade, is my very favorite of all the versions I've heard (link below). It appears in Part Three, scene IX, of La damnation de Faust.
CD libretto detail
detail photo by Styrous®
In it, von Stade as Marguerite sings, in French, a tale of a king savoring his last taste of wine from a goblet given to him by his dead loved one before he himself dies.
Es war ein König in Thule,
Gar treu bis an das Grab,
Dem sterbend seine Buhle
einen goldnen Becher gab.
Es ging ihm nichts darüber,
Er leert' ihn jeden Schmaus;
Die Augen gingen ihm über,
So oft er trank daraus.
Und als er kam zu sterben,
Zählt' er seine Städt' im Reich,
Gönnt' alles seinen Erben,
Den Becher nicht zugleich.
Er saß beim Königsmahle,
Die Ritter um ihn her,
Auf hohem Vätersaale,
Dort auf dem Schloß am Meer.
Dort stand der alte Zecher,
Trank letzte Lebensglut,
Und warf den heiligen Becher
Hinunter in die Flut.
Er sah ihn stürzen, trinken
Und sinken tief ins Meer,
die Augen täten ihm sinken,
Trank nie einen Tropfen mehr
Gar treu bis an das Grab,
Dem sterbend seine Buhle
einen goldnen Becher gab.
Es ging ihm nichts darüber,
Er leert' ihn jeden Schmaus;
Die Augen gingen ihm über,
So oft er trank daraus.
Und als er kam zu sterben,
Zählt' er seine Städt' im Reich,
Gönnt' alles seinen Erben,
Den Becher nicht zugleich.
Er saß beim Königsmahle,
Die Ritter um ihn her,
Auf hohem Vätersaale,
Dort auf dem Schloß am Meer.
Dort stand der alte Zecher,
Trank letzte Lebensglut,
Und warf den heiligen Becher
Hinunter in die Flut.
Er sah ihn stürzen, trinken
Und sinken tief ins Meer,
die Augen täten ihm sinken,
Trank nie einen Tropfen mehr
There was a king in Thule,
Was faithful till the grave,
To whom his mistress, dying,
A golden goblet gave.
Nought was to him more precious;
He drained it at every bout;
His eyes with tears ran over,
As oft as he drank thereout.
When came his time of dying,
The towns in his land he told,
Nought else to his heir denying
Except the goblet of gold.
He sat at the royal banquet
With his knights of high degree,
In the lofty hall of his fathers
In the castle by the sea.
There stood the old carouser,
And drank the last life-glow;
And hurled the hallowed goblet
Into the tide below.
He saw it plunging and filling,
And sinking deep in the sea:
Then fell his eyelids for ever,
And never more drank he!
Was faithful till the grave,
To whom his mistress, dying,
A golden goblet gave.
Nought was to him more precious;
He drained it at every bout;
His eyes with tears ran over,
As oft as he drank thereout.
When came his time of dying,
The towns in his land he told,
Nought else to his heir denying
Except the goblet of gold.
He sat at the royal banquet
With his knights of high degree,
In the lofty hall of his fathers
In the castle by the sea.
There stood the old carouser,
And drank the last life-glow;
And hurled the hallowed goblet
Into the tide below.
He saw it plunging and filling,
And sinking deep in the sea:
Then fell his eyelids for ever,
And never more drank he!
Berlioz was inspired by a translation of the German dramatic poem by Goethe, Faust when he read Part One in 1828. He
said, "this marvellous book fascinated me from the first", he recalled in his Memoirs. "I could not put it down. I read it incessantly, at meals, in the theatre, in the street." He was so impressed that a suite entitled Eight Scenes from Faust
became his Opus 1 (1829), though he later recalled all the copies of it
he could find. He returned to the material in 1845, to make a larger
work, with some additional text by Almire Gandonnière to Berlioz's specifications, that he first called a "concert opera", and as it expanded, finally a "dramatic legend".
CD 1
photo by Styrous®
La damnation de Faust
was not originally written for the stage but it is usually presented as
an opera. It is a work in four parts and twenty scenes for four solo
voices, full seven-part chorus, a large children's chorus and orchestra.
He called it a "légende dramatique" (dramatic legend). It was first
performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 6 December 1846.
CD 2
photo by Styrous®
The recording is a reissue originally recorded in May, 1981, by Decca and includes a 100 page booklet. It was conducted by Hungarian-born orchestral and operatic conductor, Sir Georg Solti, who was born in Budapest where he studied with Béla Bartók, Leó Weiner and Ernő Dohnányi. In 1961 Solti became musical director of the Covent Garden Opera Company in London. He became music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1969 and conducted 999 concerts with the orchestra. His 1,000th concert was
scheduled for October, 1997, around the time of his 85th birthday, but he died suddenly, in his sleep, on September 5, 1997.
Frederica von Stade was born in Somerville, New Jersey, on June 1, 1945. She debuted at the Metropolitan Opera on January 10, 1970, She has sung on more than a hundred recordings, including
symphonic works, sacred music, operas, musicals, art songs, pop songs,
folk songs, jazz and comedy. She now lives in Alameda, California.
photographer unknown
Tracklist:
The Damnation Of Faust (Dramatic Legend In Four Parts)
Part One - Plains Of Hungary
1-1 Scène I - Introduction 'Le Viel Hiver A Fail Place Au Printemps' 6:17
1-2 Scène II - Ronde Des Paysns 'Les Bergers Quittent Leurs Troupeaux' 3:39
1-3 Scène III - 'Mais D'un Éclat Guerrier Les Campangnes Se Parent' 00:55
1-4 Marche Hongroise 4:47
Part Two - North Germany
1-5 Scène IV -' Sans Regrets J'ai Quitté Les Riantes Campagnes' 5:13
1-6 Chant De La Fête De Pâques - 'Christ Vient De Ressusciter!' 7:39
1-7 Scène V - 'O Pure Émotion! Enfant Du Saint Parvis!' 2:18
1-8 Scène VI - 'A Boire Encor! Du Vin' 0:25
1-9 Choeur De Buveurs - 'Oh! Qu'il Fait Bon' 2:16
1-10 Chanson De Brander - 'Certain Rat, Dans Une Cuisine' 2:16
1-11 Fugue Sur Le Thème De La Chanson De Brander - 'Amen, Etc!' 2:40
1-12 Chanson De Méphistophélès - 'Une Puce Gentille' 3:53
1-13 Scène VII - Air De Méphistophélès - 'Voici Des Roses' 2:31
1-14 Choeur De Gnomes Et De Sylphes - 'Dors! Dors! Heureux Faust' 6:18
1-15 Ballet Des Sylphes 3:41
1-16 Scène VIII - Choeur De Soldats - 'Villes Entourees De Murs Et Remparts" 1:30
1-17 Chanson D'Étudiants - 'Jam Nox Stellata (Bis) Velamina Pandit' 1:06
1-18 Choeur Des Soldats Et Chanson Des Étudiants - Ensemble 2:15
Part Three - Marguerite's Room
2-1 Scene IX - Tambours Et Trompettes Sonnant La Retiraite 1:07
2-2 Air De Faust - 'Merci, Doux Crépuscule! Oh! Sois Le Bienvenu!' 5:18
2-3 Scène X - 'Je L'Entends!' 1:02
2-4 Scène XI - 'Que L'aire Est Étouffant!' 2:55
2-5 Chanson Gothique - 'Le Roi De Thulé" 4:50
2-6 Scène XII - Evocation - 'Esprits Des Flammes Inconstantes' 2:04
2-7 Ménuet Des Follets 5:48
2-8 Sérénade De Méphistophélès Et Choeur De Follets - 'Devant La Maison' 2:04
2-9 Scène XIII - Duo - 'Grands Dieux!' 5:09
2-10 Scène XIV - Trio Et Choeur - 'Allons, Il Est Trop Tard!' 5:04
Part Four
2-11 Scène XV - Romance De Marguerite - 'D'Amour L'Ardente Flamme' 10:44
2-12 Scène XVI - Invocation A La Nature - 'Nature Immense, Impénétrable Et Fière' 4:02
2-13 Scène XVII - Récitatif Et Chasse - 'A La Voute Azurée' 3:04
2-14 Scène XVIII - La Course À L'Abîme - 'Dans Mon Coeur Retentit Sa Voix' 3:36
2-15 Scène XIX - Pandaemonium - 'Ha! Irmiru Karabrao!' 4:01
2-16 Epilogue Sur La Terre - 'Alors, L'Enfer Se Tut' 1:11
2-17 Scène XX - Dans Le Ciel - 'Laus! Laus! Hosanna! Hosanna!' 5:13
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Decca Record Company Limited
Copyright (c) – The Decca Record Company Limited
Recorded At – Medinah Temple
Credits:
Art Direction – Nick Findell
Bass Vocals [Brander] – Malcolm King
Bass Vocals [Méphistophélès] – José van Dam
Chorus – Chicago Symphony Chorus, Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus
Chorus Master – Doreen Rao, Margaret Hillis
Composed By, Libretto By – Hector Berlioz
Conductor – Sir Georg Solti*
Engineer – James Lock (2), Simon Eadon
Libretto By – Almire Gandonnière, Gérard De Nerval
Liner Notes – Hugh Macdonald
Mezzo-soprano Vocals [Marguerite] – Frederica von Stade
Orchestra – Chicago Symphony Orchestra*
Producer – James Mallinson
Tenor Vocals [Faust] – Kenneth Riegel
Notes:
Recording location: Medinah Temple, Chicago, May 1981.
℗ 1982 The Decca Record Company Limited.
© 1986 The Decca Record Company Limited.
Made in USA.
Includes booklet (100 p.) with libretto in German, French and English.
Digital recorder used during session recording, mixing and/or editing, mastering (transcription). Box top illustration: Faust & Mephistopheles by F.V.E. Delacroix, reproduced by permission of the trustees of the Wallace Collection, London. Booklet cover: Hector Berlioz by Emile Signol.
Booklet contains an essay by Hugh Macdonald entitled: "Hector Berlioz - The Damnation Of Faust". Janine Reiss - French Language Coach.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (CD1): 414 681-2 03@
Matrix / Runout (CD2): 414 682-2 02@
Label Code: LC 0171
SPARS Code: DDD
Barcode: 028941468024
Berlioz* - Kenneth Riegel, José van Dam, Frederica von Stade, Malcolm King, Chicago Symphony Orchestra* & Chorus*, Sir Georg Solti* – The Damnation Of Faust = Fausts Verdamnis
Label: London Records – 414 680-2
Format: 2 × CD, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Classical
Style: Romantic
The Damnation Of Faust (Dramatic Legend In Four Parts)
Part One - Plains Of Hungary
1-1 Scène I - Introduction 'Le Viel Hiver A Fail Place Au Printemps' 6:17
1-2 Scène II - Ronde Des Paysns 'Les Bergers Quittent Leurs Troupeaux' 3:39
1-3 Scène III - 'Mais D'un Éclat Guerrier Les Campangnes Se Parent' 00:55
1-4 Marche Hongroise 4:47
Part Two - North Germany
1-5 Scène IV -' Sans Regrets J'ai Quitté Les Riantes Campagnes' 5:13
1-6 Chant De La Fête De Pâques - 'Christ Vient De Ressusciter!' 7:39
1-7 Scène V - 'O Pure Émotion! Enfant Du Saint Parvis!' 2:18
1-8 Scène VI - 'A Boire Encor! Du Vin' 0:25
1-9 Choeur De Buveurs - 'Oh! Qu'il Fait Bon' 2:16
1-10 Chanson De Brander - 'Certain Rat, Dans Une Cuisine' 2:16
1-11 Fugue Sur Le Thème De La Chanson De Brander - 'Amen, Etc!' 2:40
1-12 Chanson De Méphistophélès - 'Une Puce Gentille' 3:53
1-13 Scène VII - Air De Méphistophélès - 'Voici Des Roses' 2:31
1-14 Choeur De Gnomes Et De Sylphes - 'Dors! Dors! Heureux Faust' 6:18
1-15 Ballet Des Sylphes 3:41
1-16 Scène VIII - Choeur De Soldats - 'Villes Entourees De Murs Et Remparts" 1:30
1-17 Chanson D'Étudiants - 'Jam Nox Stellata (Bis) Velamina Pandit' 1:06
1-18 Choeur Des Soldats Et Chanson Des Étudiants - Ensemble 2:15
Part Three - Marguerite's Room
2-1 Scene IX - Tambours Et Trompettes Sonnant La Retiraite 1:07
2-2 Air De Faust - 'Merci, Doux Crépuscule! Oh! Sois Le Bienvenu!' 5:18
2-3 Scène X - 'Je L'Entends!' 1:02
2-4 Scène XI - 'Que L'aire Est Étouffant!' 2:55
2-5 Chanson Gothique - 'Le Roi De Thulé" 4:50
2-6 Scène XII - Evocation - 'Esprits Des Flammes Inconstantes' 2:04
2-7 Ménuet Des Follets 5:48
2-8 Sérénade De Méphistophélès Et Choeur De Follets - 'Devant La Maison' 2:04
2-9 Scène XIII - Duo - 'Grands Dieux!' 5:09
2-10 Scène XIV - Trio Et Choeur - 'Allons, Il Est Trop Tard!' 5:04
Part Four
2-11 Scène XV - Romance De Marguerite - 'D'Amour L'Ardente Flamme' 10:44
2-12 Scène XVI - Invocation A La Nature - 'Nature Immense, Impénétrable Et Fière' 4:02
2-13 Scène XVII - Récitatif Et Chasse - 'A La Voute Azurée' 3:04
2-14 Scène XVIII - La Course À L'Abîme - 'Dans Mon Coeur Retentit Sa Voix' 3:36
2-15 Scène XIX - Pandaemonium - 'Ha! Irmiru Karabrao!' 4:01
2-16 Epilogue Sur La Terre - 'Alors, L'Enfer Se Tut' 1:11
2-17 Scène XX - Dans Le Ciel - 'Laus! Laus! Hosanna! Hosanna!' 5:13
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Decca Record Company Limited
Copyright (c) – The Decca Record Company Limited
Recorded At – Medinah Temple
Credits:
Art Direction – Nick Findell
Bass Vocals [Brander] – Malcolm King
Bass Vocals [Méphistophélès] – José van Dam
Chorus – Chicago Symphony Chorus, Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus
Chorus Master – Doreen Rao, Margaret Hillis
Composed By, Libretto By – Hector Berlioz
Conductor – Sir Georg Solti*
Engineer – James Lock (2), Simon Eadon
Libretto By – Almire Gandonnière, Gérard De Nerval
Liner Notes – Hugh Macdonald
Mezzo-soprano Vocals [Marguerite] – Frederica von Stade
Orchestra – Chicago Symphony Orchestra*
Producer – James Mallinson
Tenor Vocals [Faust] – Kenneth Riegel
Notes:
Recording location: Medinah Temple, Chicago, May 1981.
℗ 1982 The Decca Record Company Limited.
© 1986 The Decca Record Company Limited.
Made in USA.
Includes booklet (100 p.) with libretto in German, French and English.
Digital recorder used during session recording, mixing and/or editing, mastering (transcription). Box top illustration: Faust & Mephistopheles by F.V.E. Delacroix, reproduced by permission of the trustees of the Wallace Collection, London. Booklet cover: Hector Berlioz by Emile Signol.
Booklet contains an essay by Hugh Macdonald entitled: "Hector Berlioz - The Damnation Of Faust". Janine Reiss - French Language Coach.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (CD1): 414 681-2 03@
Matrix / Runout (CD2): 414 682-2 02@
Label Code: LC 0171
SPARS Code: DDD
Barcode: 028941468024
Berlioz* - Kenneth Riegel, José van Dam, Frederica von Stade, Malcolm King, Chicago Symphony Orchestra* & Chorus*, Sir Georg Solti* – The Damnation Of Faust = Fausts Verdamnis
Label: London Records – 414 680-2
Format: 2 × CD, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Classical
Style: Romantic
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
YouTube link:
Frederica von Stade ~ The King of Thule
Dedicated to Tom
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