"Let me say at the outset that this is the most satisfying performance of Gounod"s favourite opera yet to appear in the LP/CD era. Davis has generated just the sense of a live and lively performance seldom found on the rival recordings. He obviously cherishes the work, lavishes immense care on Gounod"s felicitous scoring and persuades his Bavarian forces to lift the rhythms in a really Beecham-esque manner. It also has one of Philips"s most natural, forward and well-balanced recordings--voices in perfect alignment with the orchestra." --Gramophone CAST LIST KIRI TE KANAWA Marguerite FRANCISCO ARAIZA Faust EVGENY NESTERENKO Méphistophélès ANDREAS SCHMIDT Valentin PAMELA COBURN Siebel MARJANA LIPOVSEK Marthe GILLES CACHEMAILLE Wagner Symphonie-Orchester & Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks Sir Colin Davis, conductor