The seeds for Messiaen's final organ work were sown during an
inspirational trip to Israel in 1984. Over the course of the next
twelve months, Messiaen found improvisation leading him back to
composition after the exhausting labours that had produced his
mighty opera Saint François d'Assise.The Livre du Saint Sacrement
became Messiaen's grand farewell to his own instrument, and
Michael Bonaventure performs it from memory here on the Rieger organ at St Giles' Cathedral, the true
acoustic of which preserves the clarity of Messiaen's lines.
“The Livre du Saint Sacrement (1986) was Messiaen’s final great cycle for the organ, 18 movements lasting about two hours. The music is elemental, devout, ritualistic, eclectic. Sometimes it seems simple, a tune and shimmering accompaniment, even a single line (as in the third movement, Le Dieu caché). And sometimes it rejoices in a cacophonic chaos of counterpoint (as in movement 13, Les Deux murailles d’eau). It is always direct, however, and utterly sincere. Michael Bonaventure cajoles from the mighty Rieger organ of St Giles’ Cathedral a formidable range of authentically Gallic-sounding colours in his commanding, thrilling and brilliantly executed performance.” Sunday Times, 29th June 2008 ****
“In Michael Bonaventure's performance on the Rieger organ of St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, the work plays for almost two hours. On disc it should be sampled in smaller quantities to appreciate the power of the best of the organ writing. Bonaventure certainly allows the music all the space it needs, but there's also a rhythmic energy to his playing that never allows it to hang fire for too long.” The Guardian, 27th June 2008 ***
“Bonaventure is utterly compelling and can be heartily recommended.” BBC Music Magazine, Proms 2008 *****
