Saint Francois d'Assise [DVD Video]

Messiaen's breathtakingly intense opera on the life of St Francis of Assisi stars Rod Gilfry as the charismatic visionary, beguiled by the glory of creation, yet fearful of both its imperfections and its transience. Pierre Audi's thoroughly engaging production for The Netherlands Opera brings out the naive imagery, the grandeur, and above all the vast tenderness of the resplendent score, revealed as a grandiose ritual with the meaning and purpose of life as its central theme. But the real drama of the work takes place in the orchestra. Elevated to stupendous heights by the sublimely inspired Ingo Metzmacher, The Hague Philharmonic and the Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera combine forces with a brilliant cast to produce the finest possible musical pilgrimage.

Press Reviews
"The orchestra, drilled to absolute perfection, played as if their lives depended on it, while the choral singing was superb in its intensity. The cast tellingly emphasised the physicality as well as the spirituality of Messiaen's vision...A stupendous evening, and one of the great operatic achievements of recent years." (The Guardian)

"Rod Gilfrey radiates empathy in his portrayal of the exceptionally demanding title role. Ingo Metzmacher's conducting is simply stunning, with marvellous pacing to keep the music flowing across the vast timescale, yet ensuring space and stillness when needed." (BBC Music Magazine)

"Ingo Metzmacher... inspires his cohorts to greater feats of stamina and virtuosity than any conductor before him in the opera." (Gramophone)

"The soloists are generally excellent with especially fine singing from Rod Gilfry as François, Camilla Tilling as the Angel and Tom Randle as Elie. The title role is a huge sing with the character on stage almost all of the time, and needing to express emotions ranging from quiet dignity through to overwhelming ecstasy on hearing the Angel's singing; and then ultimately to physical and emotional identification with Christ's suffering. Gilfry sustained all of this manfully, showing no sign of vocal fatigue at any point even at the conclusion." (Seen and Heard International)

Cast
Camilla Tilling (The Angel)
Rod Gilfry (Saint François)
Hubert Delamboye (The Leper)
Henk Neven (Frère Léon)
Tom Randle (Frère Massée)
Donald Kaasch (Frère Élie)
Hague Philharmonic Orchestra; Ingo Metzmacher

Production
Company: De Nederlandse Opera
Stage Director: Pierre Audi

Disc Information
Catalogue Number: OA1007D
Date of Performance: 2008
Running Time: 275 minutes
Sound: 5.0 DTS Surround; PCM Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, ES, IT, NL
Label: Opus Arte