Anca Elena in Personal Piano Project

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Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus

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#10 – Regard de l’Esprit de joie

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Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus by Olivier Messiaen

“At the origins, this work had to accompany the poems of Maurice Toesca, La Nativité, a project for radio. Playing Vingt Regards sur l`Enfant – Jésus, I imagined the words which could follow the music, the voice of the actor reading the poems, the atmosphere of Christmas, people after the 2^nd World War listening it to the radio like a ray of hope after so much craziness of destruction.

The violence is present also in this cycle, a terrible and extremely one. Jesus himself was a victim of it. In Regards we find the chaos before the creation, but also the tenderness of the motherhood, the image of a sweet sleep of Child Jesus, the wonderful freedom and joy of birds… And after all, in the end, Messiaen shows us the Christian window for peace and freedom, which is love.”

Anca Elena.

Anca Elena and Pianists Corner offer you a rendezvous every two weeks. Each rendezvous will contain one Regard. The first episode will be released first week of December.

#10 – Regard de l’Esprit de joie

“Danse véhémente, ton ivre des cors, transport du Saint-esprit … la joie d’amour du Dieu bienheureux dans l’âme de Jésus-Christ …“

“Violent dance, joyous sound of horns, rapture of the Holy Spirit … the joyous love of Blessed God in the Soul of Jesus Christ …”

Olivier Messiaen.

“God is joy, this is one of signs of His presence. Regard de l´Esprit de Joie opens up with a “barbarian” dance in neumes, early manifestation of divine union. The joy is lifting up, passing from the foggy spirals of darkness and ignorance, then through a hunting song with jazzy accents and massive virtuosity in chords and, finally, to the Theme of Joy resonating on Christian bells, moment of intense mystical ecstasy. Despite of his theological motto, Regard de l´Esprit de joie is one of the most free and anti-dogmatic work. It seems that we are in front of a new religion which put together the lights of all religions.“

Anca Elena.