Messiaen: Saint François d'Assise

“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.” BBC Music Magazine, May 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.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2009