Faustian pact

Gounod's Faust? Yes. Marlowe's Faust? Yes. Schnittke's Faust? Well, maybe not such a familiar work for most of us. But it's an absolutely extraordinary, louche, sleazy, frighteningly funny and bruise-black dramatic piece of work. And there could hardly be anyone better equipped to direct it musically than Vladimir Jurowsky, who will be conducting the piece with the LPO, four fabulous soloists, director Annabel Arden and the brilliant (mostly extremely youthful) Moscow Chamber Choir at the Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday 18 Nov. Of course I'm biased (I'm working on it), but I've been sitting (and standing, and occasionally tango-ing) in rehearsals for two days and I'm drunk with the ambition and excitement of the thing. And that's before I've even heard the astonishing orchestration. Highly recommended.