top
Home Labels Contact
Catalogue d
Olivier Messiaen

Catalogue d'Oiseaux

Momo Kodama

Label: Triton (JP)
Format: SACD
Barcode: 4526977930608
barcode
Catalog number: OVCT 60
Releasedate: 01-10-10
This is the second Messiaen CD by the Paris-based pianist Momo Kodama, one of the best, acclaimed interpreters of Messiaen music, following her Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus (OVCT-00031 first released in 2005). In 2008 of the composer's memorial year, many related concerts featured Momo Kodama as one of the most important artists, and this recording was just made after all those prize-winning concert performances of hers, integrating them into this beautiful box set.
  • Ms. Kodama has achieved succes as a Japanese musician in the international music scene and worked with big names all over the world
  • Since making her debut at 17, she has earned significant renown by performing with numerous world-class orchestras, including Boston Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Seiji Ozawa
  • In 2008 Ms. Kodama performed the Catalogue d'Oiseaux (Birds’ Catalogue) and other major piano pieces on five occasions, in memory of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the master 20th century composer, Olivier Messiaen
  • Hybrid (CD SACD 2ch)
  • 3-CD box
Messiaen, who was an enthusiastic and accomplished ornithologist, investigated for his Catalogue d'oiseaux 13 birds with their songs and their specific sound environments. 

"I'm very attracted by the works of Messiaen. Catalogue d'oiseaux offers a new musical language. Each bird is evoked by his singing, his travels in its environment, the surrounding landscape etc. The music changes depending on whether the bird is found in the air of morning or evening, or depending on the weather. There are many birds in the catalogue, which gives a great diversity in sounds. The work reflects the beauty of nature, but there is also plenty of humor. "

"Messiaen, who practiced ornithology in a scientific way and with passion, has traveled the world in search of new species. But the thirteen pieces in the catalogue are devoted to birds in France. "Each piece is written in honor of a French province," wrote the composer. Each is simply the name of the symbolic bird of the region."

It is a modest monument and brilliant but highly demanding. "The singing of birds is different from the human voice. The rhythm is completely different from what we usually hear. But the work is very accessible, even to an audience that knows no contemporary music ". - interview with Momo Kodama in La Provence