Messiaen: Hymne au Saint-Sacrement (Hymn to the Holy)

Olivier Messiaen’s uniquely distinctive and powerfully expressive musical voice drew strength from religious faith and nature. A prestigious commission, Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum commemorates the dead of two World Wars through the transcendence of Christ’s Resurrection. Scored for winds and percussion, the work is conceived for and conjures up vast spaces. Le tombeau resplendissant and Hymne are early works, but equally filled with mystery and symbolism. Fanfare magazine described Jun Märkl’s previous volume in this series (Poèmes pour Mi / 8572174) as “the best recording around of a mesmerizing masterwork”.

To coincide with Messiaen’s 100th anniversary DG presents this recording of rarely heard spiritual works of the beloved French composer. Religiosity and Catholicism have been important sources of inspiration for Olivier Messiaen throughout his artistic life and form the key aspect of the repertoire selected for this album

The Trois Petites Liturgies for piano, ondes martenot, choir and orchestra were premiered in occupied Paris in 1943, and received highest praise by Jean Cocteau, Francis Poulenc and Arthur Honegger among others – with the aim of bringing “a kind of organized act of praise into the concert room” Messiaen achieved one of his most colourful and enduring works up to that point – he himself described the music as “nothing but an act of love”. With Hymne au Saint-Sacrement of 1932 and Couleurs de la Cité Céleste the album forms a triplet of rarely heard religious music by one of the predominant French composers of the 20th century.

Myung-Whun Chung is known as one of todays most accomplished conductors when it comes to the works of Olivier Messiaen; most notably in 1994 he gave the world première performance of Messiaen’s Concert à quatre, which was dedicated to Chung by the composer. Chung has produced a strong back-catalogue of Messiaen recordings on DG with almost each and every recording garnering international awards, including a Grammy in 1995

Spanning six decades, Messiaen’s orchestral and vocal-orchestral music embody one of the monuments of 20th-century music. Under Pierre Boulez and Myung-Whun Chung, here is the only available complete recording, on 10 CDs, of all these masterpieces, including classics like the Turangalila Symphony and From the Canyon to the Stars, as well as rarities like The Forgotten Offerings and the brief Chorus of the Departed. With new liner notes by Messiaen expert Nigel Simeone and full sung texts and translations

It was meant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the great French composer’s birth in December 2008. Released in September 2008, it was sold out before the anniversary date – all 4,000 boxes of the Messiaen Complete Edition.

There are benchmark performances by Pierre Boulez, Myung-Whun Chung, Olivier Latry and Roger Muraro, among many others. It’s the only set that can offer Messiaen’s magnum opus, the opera Saint François d’Assise. New recordings were made for the Edition; two works were recorded for the first time.

Limited Edition.

The only Messiaen box to offer the complete works. Highlights include:

Complete Orchestral Works: Boulez and Chung (including new [2008] recording of Trois petites liturgies and Couleurs de la Cité céleste).

Complete Piano Works: Roger Muraro.

Complete Organ Works: Olivier Latry.

Saint François: José van Dam / Dawn Upshaw / Kent Nagano.

Rarities include La Mort du Nombres, Choeur des déportés, Fêtes des belles eaux for Ondes Martenot, 4 Inédits pour piano et ondes Martenot, Chant dans le style de Mozart ….

Lavish 400-page CD booklet in French and English.