Review of Gustavo Jimeno – Christ: Turangalîla Symphony

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Gustavo Jimeno have now presented Olivier Messiaen's exquisite love song in symphonic form entitled “Turangalîla” – their first album together. The recording raises the question of how the composer imagines the music. Here, however, it sounds very bright and sometimes sparkling, always concise in tempo, almost angular, as in Stravinsky's footsteps. This seems new, especially in light of previous recordings in which the focus is more on a different aspect and one experiences Christ as a gentle musician, approaching the spiritual side. Marc-André Hamelin masters complex piano playing as we know it: surprisingly confident, almost effortless, and possessing the necessary transparency. Nathalie Forget impresses with Ondes Martenot. The bottom line is a new but controversial interpretation.

Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony

Marc-André Hamelin (piano), Nathalie Forget (onds Martinot), Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Gustavo Jimeno (conductor)
Harmony mundi

Gustavo Jimeno

The drummer got lost? Not even close! Gustavo Jimeno, born in Valencia, Spain in 1976, has an international reputation as an orchestral conductor. After studying drums, he initially worked as a solo drummer with the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. Meanwhile, there was… more