Faust Chamber Orchestra

Always true to the ethos of chamber music, Faust Chamber Orchestra has emerged as a leading force making classical music fresh, comprehensible, and inspirational in the concert hall. Under the artistic direction of conductor and pianist Mark Austin, recent highlights include performances with Tasmin Little, Siobhan Stagg, Guy Johnston and Katie Bray at Kings Place, LSO St Luke’s, Ely Cathedral, and West Road Concert Hall. Recent festival appearances include Cambridge Summer Music Festival and Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival.

Audiences are drawn to Faust Chamber Orchestra’s distinctive programming which throws light on the hidden meanings of works often using live musical illustrations and the chance for listeners to ask questions. Recent successes have included an eclectic mix of Haydn and Sally Beamish, as well as “Ways into Bach”, an exploration of dance in the music of JS Bach alongside linked works by CPE Bach and Grieg. The orchestra is committed to contemporary music and recently recorded an album with The Bach Choir featuring six new works written in response to Bach’s ‘St Matthew Passion’.

Faust Chamber Orchestra’s approach to music is about ensuring its vitality now and for generations to come. The ensemble leads a wide range of educational projects, working in partnership with Chiltern Music Academy, at Chickenshed Theatre and in several primary and secondary schools. These include school workshops, side-by-side sessions and joint performances. Members of the orchestra are currently involved with a major research project at Warwick University focusing on Music of the Napoleonic Era.