La Damnation de Faust (The Damnation of Faust in English) is a work for chorus and orchestra by 19th Century French composer Hector Berlioz. The work has defied distinction from a formal perspective and was referred to by Berlioz as a "légende dramatique" (English translation: dramatic legend) as opposed to an opera, a cantata, et al. From time and again, it is performed in all its glory as an opera and as a concert. The work is based on the epic poem Faust by Wolfgang von Goethe and is comprised of four solo voices, a full seven-part chorus, a large children's chorus and a large orchestra - an unprecedented number of performers for the time. Because of the work's strange format, staging of La Damnation de Faust was considered to be nearly impossible and when Berlioz had a chance to finally see the work staged, he ultimately had to admit to his era's limitations in staging it as he imagined. La Damnation of Faust, despite its grand scope and inability to be easily categorized (much like the work it's based on) is considered to be one of Berlioz's greatest masterpieces.
