The Berlioz version of Faust was a hugely ambitious piece for a touring company to put on, and while this attempt seems to have been quite commendable, there were definite drawbacks. The first night in Liverpool was conducted by Sir Charles Hallé, with some extra players brought from his own Manchester orchestra. The Scotsman critic had journeyed south for the opening to facilitate his assessment of the enterprise. Unlike the first staging not long before, in Monte Carlo, the work was now performed complete. 'In many parts the music gains by the stage presentation. The scenery and the costumes help out the meaning of the composer. But after making every allowance for the difficulties that beset the path of a travelling company, it must be admitted that at certain critical moments last night the illusion was completely destroyed. In Liverpool the Ride to the Abyss was bad; last night it was deplorably bad; and unless some way of escape can be found by the management the success of Berlioz's Faust on the stage will be marred by this ill-managed climax.'
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