Colouristic Potential Vocal music by Olivier Messiaen - impresses GERALD FENECH '... imaginative conducting ...'

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) is without doubt the unique musical spiritual utterance of twentieth century France. A devout Catholic throughout his life, his many compositions with a spiritual theme have fascinated both audiences and critics alike, and even those who do not share his beliefs experience a certain emotional attachment to his work. His only opera, Saint François d'Assise, is for the twentieth century what Wagner's Tristan was for the nineteenth; indeed it is considered Messiaen's supreme masterpiece, and the three works on this disc are a wonderful example of the composer's mastery when writing for the voice. Many people go through life without having the faintest inkling of Messiaen's sound-pictures, but those who have tasted them do not remain the same...

OLIVIER MESSIAEN

DENMARK

VOCAL MUSIC

CHORAL MUSIC