Messiaen was born in the French town of Avignon into a literary family and entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 11. He would become a leading composer and organist of his time, traveling the globe and performing in major concert venues. In 1949, Messiaen’s “Turangalîla-Symphonie” was performed for the first time in the United States and conducted by Leonard Bernstein. He drew his inspiration from very diverse influences such as Japanese music, Greek and Hindu sources and Roman Catholicism. Click on album image below to find out more about the release.
