The French composer Olivier Messiaen was one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. He prepared the way for surrealism in the 1950s...

The French composer Olivier Messiaen was one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. He prepared the way for surrealism in the 1950s and opened up musical language to non-European influences extending far beyond Debussy. Messiaen even used birdsong in order to create music of 'fairy-like splendor.' Susanne Kessel combines piano compositions of Messiaen with American composer Leon Milo's Soundscapes on this CD. As in a kind of audio-book, Messiaen's piano works and real sounds from his life are combined in Leon Milo's Soundscapes to form impressive sound collages. They allow a rapprochement with the Messiaen phenomenon that is as sensual as it is true-to-life, without in any way detracting from his mystery.