Olivier Messiaen – Catalogue d´oiseaux

A vibrant symphony of birdsong, where each note captures nature’s vivid palette.

Catalogue d’oiseaux, published in 1958, is Olivier Messiaen’s most extensive work after his opera Saint François d’Assise. This composition masterfully integrates the three main elements of Messiaen’s musical language: rhythm, the relationship between sound and colour, and birdsongs. The score is a collection of birdsong transcriptions and descriptive elements of the landscape, presenting a true interpretative challenge for any performer.

Spanish pianist Gregorio Benítez — praised by critics for his ‘hypnotic stage presence’ and ‘extraordinary range of piano colors’ — will present excerpts from Messiaen’s Catalogue d’oiseaux, a milestone in 20th-century classical music. This performance celebrates the 100th birthday of pianist and muse Yvonne Loriod (1924–2010), who premiered the work 65 years ago.

This concert is also part of an international tour during which Gregorio Benítez performs the complete piano works of Olivier Messiaen.