Contents
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992): Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ, etc.
Kent Nagano (conductor) Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ
-for mixed choir, seven solo instruments, and large orchestra
[CD1]
1-7. Septenaire No. 1
[CD2]
1-7. Septenaire No. 2
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano)
Lionel Côté (cello)
Henrik Wiese (flute)
Stephan Schilling (clarinet)
Christian Pilz (silorimba)
Guido Marglander (marimba)
Jörg Hannabach (vibraphone)
Moon-Young Oh (tenor)
Matthias Ettmaier (bass)
Bavarian Radio Chorus (chorus conductor: Howard Ehrman)
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Kent Nagano (conductor)
[CD3]
Poems for Mi
- For soprano and orchestra
Book 1:
1. No. 1. Action de graces (prayer of thanksgiving)
2. No. 2. Paysage (landscape)
3. No. 3. La maison (house)
4. No. 4. Epouvante (embracing fear)
Book 2
5. No. 5. The Wife
6. No. 6. Ta voix (Your Voice)
7. No. 7. Les deux guerriers (Two Warriors)
8. No. 8. Le Collier (The Necklace)
9. No. 9. Priere exaucee (An Answered Prayer)
Jenny Davier (Soprano)...1-9
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Kent Nagano (Conductor)
Chronochromie
-For Large Orchestra
10. Introduction - Modern
11. Strophe I - Modest
12. Antistrophe I - Un peu vif
13. Strophe II - Modest
14. Antistrophe II - Un peu vif
15. Epode - Modest
16. Coda Coda - Un peu vif
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Kent Nagano (conductor)
Recorded live in Munich, Germany
June 20-23, 2017, Philharmonie in the Gasteig...CDs 1 and 2
February 11-15, 2019, Herkulessaal...CDs 3:1-9
July 3-6, 2018, Herkulessaal...CDs 3:10-16
When Messiaen personally appointed Kent Nagano as his assistant for the 1983 premiere of his opera "Saint Francis of Assisi" conducted by Seiji Ozawa, Nagano was highly praised by Messiaen and has continued to actively incorporate his works into his programs. Nagano's 2000 recording of the Turangalila Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic is a clear, thorough interpretation, leaving a striking impression that fundamentally changes listeners' perception of the work as "complex and difficult to understand." This three-disc set features live recordings of three Messiaen works by Nagano. The main focus is the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ, written between 1965 and 1969, featuring a massive five-horn orchestra, a 100-piece choir, and seven solo instruments, including soloists and percussion. Featuring the familiar Pierre-Laurent Aimard on piano and Lionel Côté, principal cellist of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Nagano delivers a beautiful cello solo, ensuring a performance that lives up to expectations. This recording offers a truly enjoyable experience, showcasing the pinnacle of Messiaen's creative endeavors, with the complex rhythms of a large orchestra and the enchanting sounds of birdsong and mystical chorales. Other tracks include "Poem for Mi," dedicated to Messiaen's first wife, Claire Delbos, and "Chronochromie," in which birdsong also plays a prominent role.
Press Reviews and More
Kent Nagano was personally appointed as Messiaen's assistant for the 1983 premiere of Messiaen's opera "Saint Francis of Assisi" conducted by Seiji Ozawa. Highly regarded by Messiaen, Nagano has continued to actively incorporate Messiaen's works into his programs. Nagano's recording of the Turangalîla Symphony (2000) with the Berlin Philharmonic in 2000 is a clear performance that interprets every detail, leaving a vivid impression that fundamentally changes the listener's image of this work as "complex and difficult to understand." Nagano is considered one of the greatest Messiaen conductors of our time. This three-disc set features live recordings of three Messiaen works by Nagano. (C)RS
