Soprano Barbara Hannigan and pianist Bertrand Chamayou unite to record the vocal music of Olivier Messiaen, presenting his two major song cycles from the 1930’s.

The album is Exclusively Available from NativeDSD in Stereo DSD 512, DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64 and the recorded format and bit rate of Stereo DXD 32 Bit from the 32 bit DXD Edit Master files!

Existing in both the sensual and sacred realms, the Poèmes pour Mi are inspired by the precious relationship of Messiaen and “Mi” – the nickname of his first wife; violinist and composer Claire Delbos.

Chants de terre et de ciel also emerges from Messiaen’s marriage to Delbos, written just after the birth of their son, Pascal. Both cycles oscillate between hypnotic meditation and ecstatic songs of love, supported by Messiaen’s intense spiritual faith. Inspired by Messiaen’s words, “It is a glistening music we seek…”,

Hannigan and Chamayou delve into the composer’s complex language to reveal a natural and flowing music, whose roots extend from the earth upwards to a shimmering realm.

As a final work on the album, Hannigan and Chamayou included a rarely performed “scena” of Messiaen: La Mort du nombre (1929) is a dialogue between two souls, in which they are joined by the Canadian tenor Charles Sy and the Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang.

Barbara Hannigan, Soprano
Bertrand Chamayou, Piano

Guest Musicians (Track 16)
Charles Sy, Tenor
Vilde Frang, Violin