Credits:

Williams, Roderick

Description:

When Messiaen's opera "St. Francis of Assisi" was premiered in 1983 under the direction of Seiji Ozawa, Kent Nagano was personally appointed by Messiaen as his assistant. Kent Nagano, who was highly acclaimed by Messiaen, has actively included Messiaen's works in his programs since then, and his recording of "Turangalila Symphony" (2000) with the Berliner Philharmoniker is a lucid and detailed interpretation of the work that radically changes the image of the work as "complex and difficult" for listeners. The performance is considered one of Messiaen's finest of our time, and it is so impressive that it radically alters the listener's image of the work as "complex and difficult. This 3-CD set includes live recordings of three Messiaen works by Kent Nagano. The main work is "The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ," written between 1965 and 1969, with a huge five-wind orchestra, a 100-member choir, soloists, and seven solo instruments including percussion, and featuring the well-known Pierre-Laurent Emard on piano and the beautiful cello soloist The piano is played by the well-known Pierre-Laurent Emard, and the beautiful cello solo is performed by Lionel Coté, principal cellist of the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, as expected.The complex rhythms spun by the large orchestra and the mysterious chorales with birdcalls and chorus that can be heard through the euphoric sounds, make this the pinnacle of Messiaen's creation a work to be enjoyed to the fullest. Other works include "Poem for Mi," dedicated to Messiaen's first wife, Claire Delbos, and "Chronochromie," in which the birds' voices also play an important role. Naxos Japan

Tracklisting:

1.La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ (The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ), for mixed chorus, seven instrumental soloists and a large orchestra~Premier Septenaire (First Septenary): Recit evangelique (Recitative from Gospel)
2.La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ (The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ), for mixed chorus, seven instrumental soloists and a large orchestra~Premier Septenaire (First Septenary): Configuratum corpori claritatis suae (To Be Like His Glorified Body)
3.La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ (The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ), for mixed chorus, seven instrumental soloists and a large orchestra~Premier Septenaire (First Septenary): Christus Jesus, splendor Patris (Jesus, Reflection of the Father)
4.La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ (The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ), for mixed chorus, seven instrumental soloists and a large orchestra~Premier Septenaire (First Septenary): Recit evangelique (Recitative from Gospel)
5.La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ (The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ), for mixed chorus, seven instrumental soloists and a large orchestra~Premier Septenaire (First Septenary): Quam dilecta tabernacula tua (How Aimable Are Your Tabernacles)
6.La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ (The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ), for mixed chorus, seven instrumental soloists and a large orchestra~Premier Septenaire (First Septenary): Candor est lucis aeternae (She Is the Reflection of Eternal Light)
7.La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ (The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ), for mixed chorus, seven instrumental soloists and a large orchestra~Premier Septenaire (First Septenary): Choral de la Sainte Montagne (Chorale of the Holy Mountain)
8.Poemes pour Mi (Poems for Mi), for soprano & orchestra~Le collier (The Necklace)
9.Poemes pour Mi (Poems for Mi), for soprano & orchestra~Priere exaucee (A Prayer Granted)
10.Chronochromie pour grand orchestre (for Large Orchestra)~Introduction
11.Chronochromie pour grand orchestre (for Large Orchestra)~Strophe I
12.Chronochromie pour grand orchestre (for Large Orchestra)~Antistrophe I
13.Chronochromie pour grand orchestre (for Large Orchestra)~Strophe II
14.Chronochromie pour grand orchestre (for Large Orchestra)~Antistrophe II
15.Chronochromie pour grand orchestre (for Large Orchestra)~Epode
16.Chronochromie pour grand orchestre (for Large Orchestra)~Coda