Olivier Messiaen’s two-and-a-half-hour piano cycle Vingt Regards sur l’enfant-Jésus is one of the most extraordinary and ground-breaking works in twentieth-century piano repertoire, joining such musical Mount Everests as Bach’s Goldberg Variations and the late Sonatas of Beethoven. That such a work was created in 1944 during the German occupation of France, and yet expresses such joy, conviction, love, and hope makes it all the more remarkable.

At more than two hours in length, the work is rarely performed in full. It takes a special kind of performer who has the physical and emotional stamina and focus to undertake such a task for it places immense technical and musical demands on the pianist. One such pianist is Kristoffer Hyldig who performs the work on this album.

Recorded in Vor Frelser’s Church, Copenhagen, during one of the most severe periods during the lock down by producer, recording & balance engineer extraordinaire, Preben Iwan. This is a Double Album exclusively available from NativeDSD in Stereo DSD 512, DSD 256, DSD 128 & DXD. It is also available in Stereo DSD 64.

Kristoffer Hyldig, Pianist