With mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and pianist Mitsuko Uchida, two world stars join hands on L’extase (Ecstasy), a collection of songs by Claude Debussy and Olivier Messiaen. Debussy was Messiaen’s life-long idol, and their songs are equally colorful, sumptuous, sensual, and occasionally exotic.

The album derives its name from the sultry song ‘C’est l’extase langoureuse’ from Debussy’s Ariettes oubliées. This song cycle is combined with his Chansons de Bilitis and Cinq poèmes des Baudelaires, while Messiaen is represented by the second book of his Poèmes pour Mi, a declaration of love for his first wife Claire Delbos. This recording demonstrates the profound affinity of both performers with French music, as well as their congeniality as musical partners.

Magdalena Kožená, Mezzo-Soprano
Mitsuko Uchida, Piano