Messiaen

Description

Soprano Barbara Hannigan and pianist Bertrand Chamayou come together to record the vocal music of Olivier Messiaen and present his two main vocal cycles composed in the 1930s. The Poèmes pour Mi, both sensual and sacred, are inspired by the precious relationship between Messiaen and "Mi," the nickname of his first wife, violinist and composer Claire Delbos. Also emerging from their union are the Chants de terre et de ciel, written just after the birth of their son Pascal. The two cycles oscillate between hypnotic meditation and ecstatic love songs, supported by Messiaen's intense spiritual faith. Inspired by Messiaen's words, "It is a sparkling music that we seek...", Hannigan and Chamayou delve into the composer's complex language to reveal a natural and fluid music, whose roots extend from the earth to the sky into a shimmering realm. Hannigan and Chamayou conclude the album with a rarely performed "scena" by Messiaen: La Mort du nombre (1929) is a dialogue between two souls, for which they are joined by Canadian tenor Charles Sy and Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang.