Messiaen: Saint François d'Assise

Camilla Tilling (Angel), Rod Gilfry (Saint François), Hubert Delamboye (Leper), Henk Neven (Frère Léon), Tom Randle (Frère Massée), Donald Kaasch (Frère Élie), Armand Arapian (Frère Bernard), Jan Willem Baljet (Frère Sylvestre), André Morsch (Frère Rufin)

The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra &...

This Netherlands Opera production from Pierre Audi… is a triumph of wonderfully inventive, yet sympathetic direction. The imagery follows Messiaen's knack for sophisticated simplicity. His... — BBC Music Magazine, May 2009, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 2nd Mar 2009
Catalogue No: OA1007D
Label: Opus Arte

Gramophone Magazine

Awards Issue 2009

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Messiaen: Saint François d'Assise

Recorded live at Het Musiektheater, Amsterdam, on 30th May, 11th June & 16th June 2008.
Camilla Tilling (Angel), Rod Gilfry (Saint François), Hubert Delamboye (Leper), Henk Neven (Frère Léon), Tom Randle (Frère Massée), Donald Kaasch (Frère Élie), Armand Arapian (Frère Bernard), Jan Willem Baljet (Frère Sylvestre), André Morsch (Frère Rufin)
The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera
Ingo Metzmacher (conductor) & Pierre Audi (stage director)

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Favourites, Olivier Messiaen

David casts his ear over recordings of Messiaen, and picks out some particular gems.

Messiaen's breathtakingly intense opera on the life of St Francis of Assisi stars Rod Gilfry as the charismatic visionary, beguiled by the glory of creation, yet fearful of both its imperfections and its transience. Pierre Audi's thoroughly engaging production for The Netherlands Opera brings out the naïve imagery, the grandeur, and above all the vast tenderness of the resplendent score, revealed as a grandiose ritual with the meaning and purpose of life as its central theme. But the real drama of the work takes place in the orchestra. Elevated to stupendous heights by the sublimely inspired Ingo Metzmacher, The Hague Philharmonic and the Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera combine forces with a brilliant cast to produce the finest possible musical pilgrimage.

‘The orchestra, drilled to absolute perfection, played as if their lives depended on it, while the choral singing was superb in its intensity. The cast tellingly emphasised the physicality as well as the spirituality of Messiaen's vision. Heartthrob baritone Rod Gilfry played Francis as a charismatic visionary beguiled by the glory of creation, yet fearful of both its imperfections and its transience. The Angel, who teases, consoles and ultimately guides him was sensually sung by Mozart diva Heidi Grant-Murphy. A stupendous evening, and one of the great operatic achievements of recent years.’ The Guardian

Bonus material:

Illustrated synopsis & cast gallery.

Interviews: The Children

The Message

A Chamber Piece…Really

PICTURE FORMAT: 16:9
LENGTH: TBC
SOUND: 5.0 DTS SURROUND / PCM STEREO
SUBTITLES: EN/FR/DE/ES/IT/NL

Artists

The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera, Ingo Metzmacher (conductor) & Pierre Audi (stage director)

Reviews

May 2009

This Netherlands Opera production from Pierre Audi… is a triumph of wonderfully inventive, yet sympathetic direction. The imagery follows Messiaen's knack for sophisticated simplicity. His ingenious idea of having children as an audience for the Saint's ornithology lesson in The Sermon to the Birds is charming, while his imaginative treatment of the Angel is also a delight. ...Rod Gilfrey radiates empathy in his portrayal of the exceptionally demanding title role. Ingo Metzmacher's conducting is simply stunning, with marvellous pacing to keep the music flowing across the vast timescale, yet ensuring space and stillness when needed.

Awards Issue 2009

Set in the smaller but still adequate confines of Amsterdam's Musiektheater, Audi's production thoroughly vindicates what may have been a practical decision to accommodate the vast orchestra at the back of the stage, with most of the action on an apron projecting into the stalls... Ingo Metzmacher is typically faithful to Messiaen's markings... and inspires his cohorts to greater feats of stamina and virtuosity than any conductor before him in the opera. Rodney Gilfry holds the stage as the Saint... Camilla Tilling's... sustains her lines with no obvious strain, swathed in the same robes as the Brothers, who all rise to the challenge of filling out their rather starkly defined characters. The chorus... is well drilled and deployed with great intelligence.

June 2014

With Rod Gilfry in the title role, this performance by the Netherlands Opera is grandiose in scale, both in terms of the music itself and of the visual imagery deployed by director Pierre Audi. The incorporation of children in the Sermon to the Birds scene is a particularly delightful touch.

Videos

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Messiaen: Saint François d'Assise

3 DVD Videos

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Favourites, Olivier Messiaen

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