Olivier Messiaen: Saint Francois d'Assise - Volume 4: Opera: Vocal Score

Saint Francois D'Assise is an Opera in three acts by Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992). Written in 1972 to 1983 it concerns the Catholic preacher Saint Francis of Assisi and displays the composer's devout Catholic faith. The third volume contains the complete third act of the Opera comprising the final two scenes; Stigma and Death and New Life. Despite his studies of Mozart and Wagner's operas Messiaen vowed that he would never compose one himself however he was eventually convinced by the French president. After feeling unworthy to dramatise either Christ's Passion or Resurrection he eventually chose to portray the life of SaintFrancis of Assisi whose life often reflected Christ's chastity humility poverty and suffering. This unique Opera by the individual Messiaen is a significant contribution to the repertoire and was notably semi-staged as part of the BBC proms series in 2008.