CCMusic.com

Olivier Messiaen's uniquely distinctive and powerfully expressive musical voice drew strength from religious faith and nature. A prestigious commission, Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum commemorates the dead of two World Wars through the transcendence of Christ's Resurrection. Scored for winds and percussion, the work is conceived for and conjures up vast spaces. Le tombeau resplendissant and Hymne are early works, but equally filled with mystery and symbolism. Fanfare magazine described Jun Meñrkl's previous volume in this series (Poemes pour Mi / 8.572174) as "the best recording around of a mesmerizing masterwork". Offspring of the Societe des Grands Concerts de Lyon, founded in 1905, the Orchestre National de Lyon became a permanent orchestra with 102 musicians in 1969, with Louis Fremaux as it's first musical director. Taking over from Louis Fremaux in 1971, Serge Baudo was in charge of the orchestra until 1986 and made it a musical force to be reckoned with far beyond it's home region. Jun Meñrkl was Music Director of the orchestra from 2005 to 2011.