2008 marks the centenart of the birth of a giant of twentieth century music - Oliver Messiaen. The composer wrote music that was overflowing with colour and born of profound Christian faith. BBC National Orchestra of Wales will perform a programme of French music on Wednesday 10 December 2008, 7.00pm at St David's Hall, Cardiff featuring the powerful music of Messiaen and a composer he revered, Claude Debussy, as part of the centenary celebrations. The orchestra will be joined by their highly renowned Principal Conductor Thierry Fischer who is a specialist in French music.
The concert marks Messiaen's actual date of birth, one hundred years ago and the orchestra will perform his first great orchestral piece L'Ascension which begins with a prayer from the world and ends with a slow ascension into the hereafter in a journey through four strongly characterised, diverse movements. Messiaen's Trois petites liturgies de le Presence Divine full of passion but with a deep religious foundation will also be performed. Completing the programme will be music by the French composer Debussy who helped define the music of the 20th century in terms of Impressionism. His work La damoiselle elue is a cantata based on the poem The Blessed Damozel by Dante Gabrielle Rosetti. Debussy's work will be performed by the female members of the BBC National Chorus of Wales and BBC National Orchestra of Wales joined by two distinguished soloists; Sandrine Piau and Madeleine Shaw. The piece is described as 'haunting beauty' and has been influenced by Hollywood film scores of the late 1960's.
Debussy's Danses sacree et profane is among the best-known and most frequently performed works for harp in the concert repertory. With its pastel transparency and harmonies it is a wonderfully inspiring piece. In the concert on December 10, Debussy's work will be performed by world-renowened harpist, Catrin Finch.
"She (Catrin) revelled in her own virtuosity with stunning carefree ease, playing with impeccable rhythmic poise and eliciting a rainbow of colours from her instrument. It brought the house down."
New York Concert Review 2002
