In this section of the website you'll find both interviews with the artists involved in our Messiaen celebrations and features investigating different areas of Messiaen's life and works.
Olivier Messiaen’s music was inspired by an extremely wide variety of influences – his love of nature and particularly birdsong, the way he 'saw' colours, and the music of contemporaries such as Stravinsky.
"There's a language you don't get from any other composer... you go beyond your senses with a concert by Messiaen."
Maya Iwabuchi, Co-Leader, Philharmonia Orchestra
Salonen on Messiaen
Esa-Pekka Salonen discusses the music of Messiaen, and the influence certain pieces had on him as a performer and a composer.
Philharmonia Orchestra players on Messiaen
Philharmonia Orchestra players discuss performing the music of Messiaen
The Sound World of Messiaen
We present a series of features on different aspects of the distinctive sounds of Messiaen.
Turangalila Remix
We worked with 45 children aged between 8 and 14 to create a new Turangalîla-Symphonie-inspired-masterpiece!
