Anca Elena in Personal Piano Project
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Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus
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#15 – Le baiser de l’Enfant-Jésus

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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 2nd 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.

#15 – Le baiser de l’Enfant-Jésus
“À chaque communion, l’Enfant-Jésus dort avec nous près de la porte; puis il l’ouvre sur le jardin et se précipite à toute lumière pour nous embrasser …“
“At each Communion, the Infant Jesus sleeps with us, close to the gate; then he opens it onto the garden and comes forth in a blaze of light to embrace us …“
Olivier Messiaen.

“In the most tender, gentle, sweet Regard of the whole cycle, Messiaen escapes from his own sharp style, keeping only the colors of his modal harmony. The story of this work is very simple: The Child-Jesus is sleeping in the arms of His mother… Birds are singing… He is opening the door to the garden and spreading His arms to Love… Chromatic harmonies, like a Wagner infinite crescendo lead to the most intense moment of the piece, “Le baiser” / “The kiss”. Messiaen notes on the score “with love” in the most beautiful moment of the piece and perhaps of the entire cycle. Freedom, enthusiasm, happiness, bright and intense colors, soul singing love…In the end it remains “The shadow of the kiss” / “L’ombre du baiser”, trembling like a wind over the river.”
Anca Elena.
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