Tourane-geulîlâ is a Sanskrit word whose meaning is more or less "cycle of life, dance and death". Through this romantic, exotic and psychedelic fresco, Olivier Messiaen created a sort of soundtrack for an imaginary film, whose director could be, why not, Arnaud Depleschin engaged in a Hollywood blockbuster. Often compared with Stravinski’s Rite of Spring this symphony borrows to South American and Indonesian music and instruments, like gamelan, and the piano and the ondes Martenot (the first electronic keyboards of the 20th century!) are given the leading part.
Turangalîla - Symphonie
Deutsche Gramophon -
431 781-2