Just briefly, this is a beautiful performance of Faust. Kiri is wonderful as M and Burrows is also perfect as Faust. The sound is great for a live performance. Mackerras leads a very musical production. Do not hesitate to buy this set.

A wonderful live recording! Highly recommended! A must!

Good, an excellent Mephistopheles, less convinced by Kiri Te Kanawa who’s French is sometimes difficult to understand. But the involvement is there and all voices are top quality !

Wonderful. Burrows was the real surprise. I always thought of him as a Mozart tenor but he was superb as Faust. Treigle was excellent as always. I only heard him live once in Philadelphia as the best Escamillo ever. Te Kanawa was radiant. I am so glad you made this performance available!

Other reviewers here have already praised this performance so I will try not to repeat their views. Treigle was making his Covent Garden debut. His voice wasn't quite what it had been, but he was still Treigle and delivers a Mephistopheles that fairly pops out of the disc. He was ill at the time of these performances and still manages to give a vivid portrayal. The audience is rather cool to him (he was American after all!); I hope we'd be more appreciative today.Burrows sings a magical Faust with some of the loveliest floated high notes I've ever heard. It's easy to hear why Marguerite falls for him. Te Kanawa's singing is very beautiful with an excellent trill for the Jewel Song. She also provides a winning portrayal of the naive, lonely young woman. For those who insist she was dramatically a blank listen to the end of the Church scene here: her scream is terrifying! She also justifies the inclusion of the often cut "Il ne revient pas" aria with her moving performance of it.Allen is terrific as Valentin, singing the big aria with ringing, beautiful tone. He contributes strongly to every scene he's in. Begging is a witty Martha and Baleani, replacing an indisposed Anne Howells, an excellent Siebel. I wish Andy would change the cast list above to reflect this. Mackerras is a fine leader. This is the best-sounding version of this broadcast I've heard. Faust lovers should have this!

This was a grand night at Covent Garden, captured in excellent broadcast stereo. Despite a cast riddled with substitutions, Covent Garden puts its best foot forward, notably Stuart Burrows' plangent, sweet-toned Faust, floating a lovely high C in "Salut, demure." By contrast, top notes are becoming a problem for Norman Treigle's slate-toned Mephistopheles but Treigle does not betray stylish vocalism for the sake of characterization. No, one reinforces the other.Kiri te Kanawa is a glorious Marguerite, her tone pillowy soft and her portrayal always affecting. She has a convincing trill in the "Air des bijoux" as well as the power for the dramatic scenes. This is one of the finest documents of her artistry. Thomas Allen's Valentin is already the work of a master. How firmly and with what distinction he carries the line of "Avant de quitter" and the Chorale of the Swords. How he dominates the Duel Trio and with what savagery he denounces Marguerite. T Silvia Baleani, subbing for Anne Howells, is a capable Siebel and Heather Begg is a characterful Marthe. Even Michael Manuel's Wagner is a positive. When originally scheduled conductor John Matheson fell ill, Covent Garden was able to deputize Charles Mackerras on short notice. The latter favors an approach that is both broad and intimate. "Ils ne revert pas" is included, a rare practice, but the Walpurgis Night is out. Although the last CD runs less than 30 minutes, there are no bonus tracks. Pity.

I really enjoyed this performance. The sound is very good. The conducting is strong. All the singers are in good or great form. Te Kanawa is much more animated here than in her commercial recording. Burrows is a good Faust and one not available elsewhere. Treigle may not be at his strongest but he still makes an impression. He died shortly thereafter. Interesting performance.

Very fine performance.

Great recording.

This set is the last recording of the great American bass Norman Treigle. Treigle would live only a few more months and was already in extremely tenuous health. He isn't able to make the vocal impact one hopes for, unsurprisingly, but his acting is vivid and he sings very intelligently, husbanding his declining resources. Te Kanawa displays her very beaitiful young voice, sings well, and is only slightly short of a few of her highest notes. There is not much character on display, though. Burrows sings a very good Faust without being very exciting. Thomas Allen is the best in the supporting role of Valentin. Mackerras runs a tight ship, but the audience seems less than impressed.