Olivier Messiaen: Saint Francis of Assisi -Act III, 7. Les stigmates

Informatie

Saint François D'Assise is an opera in 3 acts by Olivier Messiaen. This volume is part of the edition that includes the books with the full Orchestra scores, as well as the explanations, analysis and comments of each tableau. It is focused on the Act 3, Tableau 7. Les stigmates which tells of the moment when Saint Francis receives the stigmata which proves that God approves his status of Saint.

This tableau is happening when Saint Francis is alone, in a cave in Verna. The music, with a choir, depicts a feeling of anxiety until the Choir interprets the voice of the Christ. Saint Francis is then hit by some light from a cross that appeared to him, in the exact same places where the Christ was hit by the Stigmata. The Orchestra is really strong on that tableau and depicts one of the most important moments of the opera