Music by 20th-century composers. Olivier Messiaen #4. The 30’s: More spiritual works, his son is born, and he composes a tribute to his wife Claire.
He met his wife at the conservatoire she was attending as well and her father Victor was a professor. They gave many recitals together in the early 30’s in Paris. It wasn’t until 1937, that their son Pascal was born. The year before, Messiaen had written a great tribute to his wife, entitled ‘Poèmes pour Mi’. Mi was his nickname for her. He also composed one of his greatest sacred works, ‘Ascension’, that we will play in its organ arrangement. Messiaen starts experimenting with Greek and Indian embellishments and different rhythmic systems.
Playlist:
– l’Ascension, pour orgue (1933) Olivier Latry, organ.
– Vocalise, pour voix de soprano et piano (1936) Ingrid Kapelle, soprano and Håkon Austbö,piano.
– Poèmes pour Mi – 1er & 2e Livre, pour grand soprano dramatique et orchestra (1936) Renée Fleming and the Radio Orchestra France conducted by Alan Gilbert.
