Songs (Complete)

Recording: 10-12 may 2004, Hervormde Kerk, Rhoon, The Netherlands

•All Messiaen's songs? Well, everything he wrote for soprano and piano. Olivier Messiaen is considered one of the most important and influential composers of the twentieth century. He is probably best-known for his Turangalîla symphony and for making use of birdsong in his music.

•During a relatively short period rather early in his career Messiaen wrote some 30 songs. Some of them belong to sets and some are single. They are mainly on texts of his own and by his mother, Cécile Sauvage. His personal style and idiosyncrasies are already evident in these songs as is his religious tendency in the last set, Harawi, a "song of love and of death".

•The songs for soprano and accompaniment have never before been recorded by a single singer. These brand-new recordings were made for Brilliant Classics by Dutch singer Ingrid Kappelle and internationally recognised Messiaen performer Hakon Austbö. This pianist has worked intimately with the composer himself in the past and has made highly acclaimed recordings of his works for piano solo.

•Recently this pianist and singer together performed the songs recorded here at the Messiaen Chamber music festival in Oslo, Norway, and also at the Messiaen Festival in Den Bosch, The Netherlands.