Saint François d'Assise
Olivier Messiaen
Saint François d’Assise
Franciscan Scenes. Opera in three acts and eight scenes, for seven solo singers, mixed chorus and full orchestra (1975-1983)
As he explained at the time of its creation, Saint François d'Assise represents a “synthesis of Olivier Messiaen's musical discoveries”, as well as an unprecedented attempt to express his faith through a subject that translates its principal mysteries.
"I chose Saint Francis as a character firstly, because he resembled Christ in his chastity, his poverty, his humility, the five wounds on both feet, both hands and the side, i.e. the stigmata. But also because, if you like, he's a sort of confrere for me, I'm an ornithologist and he preached about birds." Olivier Messiaen
Musical direction Maxime Pascal
Visual creation Nieto
Dramaturgy Damien Bigourdan
Saint Francis of Assisi Antoin Herrera-López Kessel
The Angel Elena Tsallagova
The Leper Damien Bigourdan
Brother Léon Mathieu Dubroca
Brother Élie Rodolphe Briand
Brother Bernard Andriy Gnatiuk
Brother Massée Safir Behloul
Le Balcon
First performance in September 2023 with:
l'Orchestre de l'Opera Națională București
Choeur de l'Opéra National Roumain (Daniel Jinga, conductor)
Chœur du Filarmonica George Enescu (Iosif Ion Prunner, conductor)
Choeur Académique de la Radio Roumaine (Ciprian Țutu, conductor)
Festival George Enescu
