In honor of the 25th anniversary of Olivier Messiaen’s death, Piano Classics releases this new album featuring pianist Jean-Rodolphe Kars. Composed in 1944 for Yvonne Loriod, Messiaen’s Vingt regards sur l’Enfant-Jesus is a suite of 20 pieces for solo piano that requires about two hours to perform. The work is a meditation on the infancy of Jesus, and the title translates roughly to “Twenty contemplations on the infant Jesus.” Indian-born Austrian pianist Jean-Rodolphe Kars lives in France, and is a catholic priest in addition to his piano career. He made his concert debut in 1967, and just one year later won first prize at the Concours de Piano Olivier Messiaen. He specializes in performing the works of Messiaen, and credits the spiritual aspects of Messiaen’s music as one of the main factors that led to his conversion to Catholicism.
