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December 4, 2008

Matthew Odell to perform at Messiaen celebration

Locally, the commemoration of Olivier Messiaen's centennial has been marked most substantially so far by organist Jonathan Moyer, whose survey of the complete organ works finished up Nov. 23 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. This weekend, thanks to the ever-busy An die Musik, the celebration continues with Matthew Odell, who will give a complete performance of Messiaen's massive piano work Vingt regards sur l'Enfant Jesus (Twenty Views of the Child Jesus).

This 1945 score, which lasts about two hours, is a stunning example of the composer's creative imagination, with a brilliant richness and breadth of harmonic and melodic activity, not to mention pianistic color. And, of course, like so many of Messiaen's works, the music reflects his intense personal faith.

Odell will perform Vingt regards at 3 p.m. Sunday at An die Musik, 409 N. Charles St. Tickets are $8 to $15. There will be a post-concert wine reception. For a sample of this extraordinary music, see the video clip below of pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard:


Posted by Tim Smith at 3:20 PM | | Comments (0)
        

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About Tim Smith
I was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up there. Initial thoughts of becoming a cocktail pianist faded when I realized I hated taking requests. I decided to study music history instead, and got a B. A. in that field from Eisenhower College in Seneca Falls, New York, and an M.A. from Occidental College in Los Angeles. After free-lance gigs for the Washington Star and the Washington Post, I worked as classical music critic for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel during the 1980s and '90s, a period when I also ventured into radio, contributing to NPR and hosting a weekly show on a West Palm Beach station. Since April 2000, I've been classical music critic at the Baltimore Sun. Over the years, I've written occasional articles for the New York Times, BBC Music Magazine and other publications, and I'm a longtime, regular contributor to Opera News and the U.K. magazine Opera. You may still be able to find on the remainder racks my one and only book, The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Classical Music (Perigee, 2002).
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