Faustus

Historia von D. Johann Fausten is an opera by the Russian composer Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998) in three acts, with introduction and epilogue to the German libretto by Jörg Morgener (Jürgen Köchel) and Alfred Schnittke after the anonymous prose book of the same name (published by Johannes Spies in 1587). Wikipedia.

" contains three classic musique concrète compositions from Michel Chion. All were produced at the GRM in Paris (the acousmatic headquarters of the world). The itself is an electronic take on the traditional form. is a ‘technical study’ which takes an original waltz theme and fragments it. is considered a ‘monodrama’ — that is, a drama centering around one ‘character.’ In this case what we hear are the detached reactions of this ‘character’ to a nightmare. It’s French, it’s acousmatic… what more could you ask for?"

With the precision of a clockwork the American/Norwegian quartet KAMELOT has been releasing its albums since 1995 now and in the course of the years has developed into one of the most original and best bands of the genre. The last album “Epica“ in 2003 had without a doubt been the most ambitious epos to date, as they took on the heavy stuff in form of Goethe’s “Faustus” to realise. And with “The Black Halo” they take up this theme once more and combine it with own experiences and views, which results in another very deep experience, which you can interpret in a myriad of ways, which just adds to the fascination of this album…

The music on this album, with its suite-like sequence of compositions that flow like a cinematic reverie, comes across as a film-like invitation to a voyage. The spare, gently unfolding and intensely atmospheric melodies and moods deliver an invitation to listen with open ears…and to dream. Each composition is a mysterious, delicate gem, while the titles are full of references to Tarkovsky's life and work: "A celui qui a vu l'ange" is the epitaph found on his tombstone, while "Tiapa" and "Maroussia" are nicknames for his youngest child and his mother.