Saint François d'Assise (2009)
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.
Cast
- Camilla Tilling - L'Ange
- Rodney Gilfry - Saint François
- Hubert Delamboye - Le Lépreux
- Henk Neven - Frère Léon
- Tom Randle - Frère Massée
- Donald Kaasch - Frère Élie
- Armand Arapian - Frère Bernard
- Jan Willem Baljet - Frère Sylvestre
- André Morsch - Frère Rufin
Screenplay
Themes
Opera Grandeur and Dramatic Voices, Opera Stage and Dramatic Arias, Classical Music and Art
Keywords
opera, saint francis of assisi, modern opera, 20th century, olivier messiaen
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Saint François d'Assise about?
- 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.
- Who directed Saint François d'Assise?
- Saint François d'Assise was directed by Pierre Audi.
- Who stars in Saint François d'Assise?
- Saint François d'Assise stars Camilla Tilling, Rodney Gilfry, Hubert Delamboye, Henk Neven, Tom Randle, Donald Kaasch.
- How long is Saint François d'Assise?
- Saint François d'Assise has a runtime of 4h 35m (275 minutes).
- What genre is Saint François d'Assise?
- Saint François d'Assise is a Music, Drama film.
- Where was Saint François d'Assise produced?
- Saint François d'Assise was produced in Netherlands.
- What are the themes of Saint François d'Assise?
- The themes of Saint François d'Assise include: Opera Grandeur and Dramatic Voices, Opera Stage and Dramatic Arias, Classical Music and Art.