Messiaen, Olivier (1908-1992) - 20 Regards Sur L'enfant Jesus : Martin Helmchen(P)(2CD) - Import 2 CD

Credits:

Abbado

Description:

Composed in 1944, "Twenty Eyes on the Infant Jesus" is one of Messiaen's most important and largest piano works. The entire work, which would take nearly two hours to perform in its entirety, is a mixture of divine praise and his favorite birdsongs, with every fifth piece having an important content, and the "divine theme" of F-sharp major chords often appearing throughout the piece, giving the piece a soft, unifying sound that also brings a certain ease of listening. The soft sound of these chords gives a sense of unity to the music, and also makes it easier to listen to. Helmchen says, "This is the best of the 20th century. "Neither sensual nor mystical," the work is a daring challenge to the listener, who, by entering the underworld of the Messiaen's devices, encounters and worships the divine. It is a bold challenge to the listener. True to his words, all the pieces create a world full of tension, contrasting transformative sounds and silence. Naxos Japan

Messiaen Collection List