Messiaen's breathtakingly intense opera on the life of St Francis of Assisi stars Rod Gilfry as the charismatic visionary, beguiled by the glory of creation, yet fearful of both its imperfections and its transience. Pierre Audi's thoroughly engaging production for The Netherlands Opera brings out the naive imagery, the grandeur, and above all the vast tenderness of the resplendent score, revealed as a grandiose ritual with the meaning and purpose of life as its central theme. But the real drama of the work takes place in the orchestra. Elevated to stupendous heights by the sublimely inspired Ingo Metzmacher, The Hague Philharmonic and the Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera combine forces with a brilliant cast to produce the finest possible musical pilgrimage.
Olivier Messiaen
Writer
Pierre Audi
Director
Camilla Tilling
L'Ange
Rodney Gilfry
Saint François
Hubert Delamboye
Le Lépreux
Henk Neven
Frère Léon
Tom Randle
Frère Massée
Donald Kaasch
Frère Élie
Armand Arapian
Frère Bernard
Jan Willem Baljet
Frère Sylvestre
André Morsch
Frère Rufin
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Amadeus80%
Francesco66%
Teen Spirit60%
Hounddog64%
Grace Unplugged60%
Barbara59%
Jesus75%
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Coda60%
TÁR70%
My Dinner with Hervé63%
Clouds82%
