Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992)
Turangalîla-Symphonie
Tamara Stefanovich, piano
Thomas Bloch, ondes martenot
Nationaltheater-Orchester Mannheim
Alexander Soddy, conductor
The Sanskrit word Turangalîla roughly translates as ‘dynamism’ and ‘vitality’, and Olivier Messiaen,
an expert on Indian rhythms, gave this title to his gigantic opus, christening it Hymn to Joy.
The National Theater Orchestra Mannheim and its general music director Alexander Soddy revel in
the work’s exuberance, with an ensemble of over 100 musicians that includes Turangalîla specialists
Tamara Stefanovich (piano) and Thomas Bloch (ondes martenot). With its crazy tempi, rhythms and
tonalities, Messiaen’s ‘love song’ is a Dionysian frenzy of sound that is second to none.
A production by the Musikalischen Akademie des Nationaltheater Orchesters Mannheim e.V. in
cooperation with the Nationaltheater Mannheim.