Angela Hewitt - Angela Hewitt Plays Messiaen: Vingt regards; Préludes etc. (1998)

Tracklist

01. Préludes: I. La colombe
02. Préludes: II. Chant d'extase dans un paysage triste
03. Préludes: III. Le nombre léger
04. Préludes: IV. Instants défunts
05. Préludes: V. Les sons impalpables du rêve
06. Préludes: VI. Cloches d'angoisse et larmes d'adieu
07. Préludes: VII. Plainte calme
08. Préludes: VIII. Un reflet dans le vent
09. 4 Etudes de rythme: I. Île de feu 1
10. 4 Etudes de rythme: IV. Île fe feu 2
11. Vingt regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus: IV. Regard de la Vierge
12. Vingt regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus: XV. Le baiser de l’Enfant-Jésus
13. Vingt regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus: X. Regard de l’Esprit de joie

Angela Hewitt writes …
The music of Olivier Messiaen immediately attracts our attention with its rhythm, variety of colour, technical brilliance, energy, joy, and spirituality. It is incredibly well written for the instrument, even though its difficulties may deter many a player. Audiences are rarely indifferent to it, and for many it has a very powerful effect.

The Préludes were written when Messiaen was about 20 and are remarkable pieces for one so young. They were premiered in 1931. The two 'Islands of Fire' are from his Quatre Études de rythme from 1950 and are dedicated to Papua New Guinea. Messiaen states that his themes are characterized 'by the violence of the magic rites of that country'. He wrote Vingt Regards ('Twenty Contemplations of the Child Jesus') for his wife Yvonne Loriod. In it he uses the piano like an orchestra, demanding a huge range of dynamics, attacks, and timbres.

For this recording my wish was not only to present my favourite works by Messiaen, but also to give the listener an idea of the development of his writing—all on a single disc.

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