Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus
Om udgivelsen
Groundbreaking New CD Release with Music by Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen's monumental masterpiece for piano, "Twenty Contemplations on the Infant Jesus", will be released on the composer's birthday, 10 December 2023, brilliantly interpreted by the Danish-Swedish pianist Morten Heide. The release includes a well-written and beautifully illustrated 64-page booklet with insightful information about Messiaen and a comprehensive listening guide designed for both laypeople and musicians.
Messiaen's "Vingt Regards" is a cornerstone of 20th-century piano music, lasting over two hours. Morten Heide studied this monumental cycle with Messiaen's wife, pianist Yvonne Loriod- Messiaen, and the music has been part of Morten Heide's life for 25 years, adding significant credibility to this release. The work demands a stamina from the performer like very few other piano pieces. It is all the more impressive that this double album marks Morten Heide's solo debut.
"Twenty Contemplations on the Infant Jesus" exhibits a whole range of expressions, from the meditative to the explosive, from the exquisitely delicate to the wildly brutal. Messiaen's epic cycle for solo piano can be seen as a sonic art exhibition, where 20 paintings depict various aspects of Jesus' childhood: Some of the "paintings" are breathtakingly beautiful, while others present harsh images addressing life's great questions and theological depths. The work can be listened to throughout the year, but it takes on special significance in the Christmas month. Therefore, do not hesitate to order this groundbreaking release!
Track list
Om artisten
The Danish-Swedish pianist and conductor Morten Heide made his debut as a pianist from the soloist class in 2010 with a series of critically acclaimed debut concerts at various venues in Denmark. He expanded his piano education by participating in several masterclasses and pursuing piano studies at the conservatory in Hamburg.
Morten Heide's musical profile is characterized by curiosity and a versatile, holistic approach to music. His musical activities reflect a special affinity for contemporary music as well as unknown or seldom-performed music across eras.
He is active as a pianist in various contexts, and his performances have graced venues throughout Scandinavia, Iceland, Germany, England, France, Italy, Latvia, and Mexico.
As the first Danish pianist, Morten Heide recorded Olivier Messiaen's extensive and demanding piano work "Twenty Contemplations on the Infant Jesus" in its entirety in 2011. This long-awaited release marks Morten Heide's first solo CD.