Messiaen's Musical Universe

Messiaen's Musical Universe is a 215-minute documentary exploring the life and works of Olivier Messiaen, placing the accompanying performances (180 minutes) of key organ works in the broad context of his biography, creative impulses and technical approaches. Presented by organist Tom Bell and scholar Christopher Dingle, it is split into four broadly chronological parts: 1. Acte de foi; 2. Le vent de l'Esprit; 3. Les oiseaux et les sources; 4. La joie de la grâce. With on location filming in Paris, Grenoble and Messiaen's summer house in Petichet, the films find Dingle unpicking key aspects of Messiaen's approach to creating music, sketch material as well as the scores. On the second disc, Tom Bell gives filmed performances of Le Banquet Céleste, La Nativité du Seigneur, Messe de la Pentecôte and Livre du Saint-Sacrement in high-quality surround-sound.