Olivier Messiaen's monumental opera »Saint François d’Assise« in the Grand Hall - a review of one of the most spectacular projects in the history of the Elbphilharmonie.

»What on earth could possibly come after this sensational premiere, which was acclaimed for several minutes?« asked the »Hamburger Abendblatt« after the performance of Olivier Messiaen's »Saint François d’Assise« in the Elbphilharmonie, which caused a worldwide sensation in spring 2024 as part of the Hamburg International Music Festival. Four and a half hours of music, around 300 performers, a spectacular stage set-up, lighting and video effects and a flying angel in the middle of the Grand Hall: General Music Director Kent Nagano and Opera Director Georges Delnon went all out with their scenic realization of Messiaen's mammoth opera. The stage, which was already filled to the last centimeter with the huge orchestra, was built over for the first time with an elaborate bridge construction, on which Jacques Imbrailo shone as Saint François. Anna Prohaska gave the audience goosebumps as the floating L'Ange, while several choirs enveloped the audience, sometimes with great force of sound, sometimes mysteriously and quietly. »This performance was in the best hands with Kent Nagano«, cheered the »neue musikzeitung«, while the »FAZ« even hailed the production as »perhaps the greatest success of Nagano's time in Hamburg«.