Olivier Messiaen’s uniquely distinctive and powerfully expressive musical voice drew strength from religious faith and nature. A prestigious commission, Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum commemorates the dead of two World Wars through the transcendence of Christ’s Resurrection. Scored for winds and percussion, the work is conceived for and conjures up vast spaces.

Le tombeau resplendissant and Hymne are early works, but equally filled with mystery and symbolism.

With the ground prepared for it so well by the acclaimed first volume in the ONL Messiaen series, this new recording of Et Exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum has been keenly anticipated, all the more so because of the inclusion of two little-recorded works by this unique composer.

Offspring of the Société des Grands Concerts de Lyon, founded in 1905, the Orchestre National de Lyon became a permanent orchestra with 102 musicians in 1969, with Louis Fremaux as its first musical director. Taking over from Louis Fremaux in 1971, Serge Baudo was in charge of the orchestra until 1986 and made it a musical force to be reckoned with far beyond its home region. Jun Märkl was Music Director of the orchestra from 2005 to 2011.