The Update - March 8, 2016
The return of Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen's masterpiece for solo piano Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus was last performed in Melbourne in February 2009 – days after the opening of the Melbourne Recital Centre. Steven Osborne was the soloist on that occasion. His was a memorable performance – in front of a pitifully small audience, not helped by the eccentric programming so typical of the MRC in its infancy. (The recital started at 10 pm and ended well after midnight.)
Fortunately, admirers of the piece and of Pierre-Laurent Aimard's pianism won't have to wait that long to hear his version of Vingt regards at the MRC on Sunday, 20 March. The recital starts at 5 pm. This promises to be one of the recitals of the year.
The distinguished French pianist will be busy during his visit to Australia. This week he performs Messiaen's Des canyons aux étoiles with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (March 9, 11, and 12). With the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra he will perform Ravel's Piano Concerto for Left Hand on March 18, 19 and 21 (prior to Mahler's Fifth Symphony).
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