Messiaen: Orchestral Works (Live)

Featuring

Moon Yung Oh
Matthias Ettmayr
Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Lionel Cottet
Henrik Wiese
Stefan Schilling

Christian Pilz
Guido Marggrander
Jörg Hannabach
Kent Nagano
Jenny Daviet
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Olivier Messiaen

Did you know?

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Messiaen's deep religious faith was the foundation of his creativity, and he composed music as a dialogue with God, not to convert others.

Recording & Production

This album features live recordings, with 'La Transfiguration' recorded in June 2017 at the Philharmonie im Gasteig, Munich, and 'Poèmes pour Mi' and 'Chronochromie' recorded in 2019 and 2018 respectively at the Herkulessaal der Residenz, Munich.

Performer Biography

Kent Nagano, the conductor, received an unexpected bar-by-bar critique from Messiaen after sending him a recording of his performance of Poèmes pour Mi.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Messiaen was a synesthete, meaning he associated sounds with specific colors, which influenced his musical compositions.

Composer Biography

Olivier Messiaen, the French composer, served as the titular organist at La Trinité church in Paris for decades, accompanying Sunday mass and practicing during the week.

Performer Biography

Kent Nagano, the conductor, was invited by Messiaen to live with him and his wife, Yvonne Loriod (a pianist), for a year in 1982 to prepare Messiaen's opera Saint François d'Assise.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Messiaen's music often incorporates birdsong, which he archived from various countries and continents, viewing birds as the origin of all music and a gift from God.