L'extase: Debussy & Messiaen

With mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and pianist Mitsuko Uchida, two world stars join hands on L’extase, a collection of songs by Claude Debussy and Olivier Messiaen. Debussy was Messiaen’s life-long idol, and their songs are equally colourful, sumptuous, sensual, and occasionally exotic. The album derives its name from the sultry song ‘C’est l’extase langoureuse’ from Debussy’s Ariettes oubliées, and this song cycle is combined with his Chansons de Bilitis and Cinq poèmes des Baudelaires, while Messiaen is represented by the second book of his Poèmes pour Mi, a declaration of love for his first wife Claire Delbos. This recording demonstrates the profound affinity of both performers with French music, as well as their congeniality as musical partners. With L'extase, star mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená presents the seventh album of her exclusive collaboration with Pentatone, after having presented Il giardino dei sospiri, Soirée (both 2019), Nostalgia (2021), Folk Songs (2023), the title role in Handel’s Alcina and Czech Songs (both 2024). One of the most revered artists of our time, Mitsuko Uchida is known as a peerless interpreter of the works of Mozart, Schubert, Schumann and Beethoven, as well for being a devotee of the piano music of Alban Berg, Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern, and György Kurtág. She makes her PENTATONE debut.

1: La Flûte De Pan
2: La Chevelure
3: Le Tombeau Des Naiades
4: Le Balcon
5: Harmonie Du Soir
6: Le Jet D'eau
7: Recueillement
8: La Mort Des Amants
9: C'est L'extase Langoureuse
10: Il Pleure Dans Mon Coeur
11: L'ombre Des Arbres
12: Chevaux De Bois
13: Green
14: Spleen
15: L'epouse
16: Ta Voix
17: Les Deux Guerriers
18: Le Collier
19: Prière Exaucée

Composer: Claude Debussy, Olivier Messiaen

Number of Discs: 1

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