Transfigured Light

A performance of La Transfiguration de Notre-Seigneur Jesus-Christ by Messiaen, played by the Orchestre Philharmonique et Choeur de Radio France Directed by Myung-Whun Chung. Chung is a very reliable Messiaen specialist having enjoyed a close relationship with the composer prior to Messiaen's death. This piece spreads out over two disks. It sets the latin text of the story of the transfiguration and has many of Messiaen's preoccupations involved such as the blaze of light and numerology. No bird song evident this time though. Slow moving with loud orchestral interludes occasionally disrupting the awed sound of the choir and various solo instrumental contributions. I've acquired quite a few recordings of Messiaen's work and am currently trying to resolve my feelings about them. The two most accessible are the Turangalila and Quartet For The End Of Time, both of which I love. Currently however, I'm not sure I have the patience to fully appreciate some of the other works such as this one. It's good to have them on file as it were though, so that I can revisit and reassess at a more opportune time.