Pierre-Laurent Aimard is the ideal interpreter of Messiaen

French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard was a friend of Messiaen so his performances of his music are stamped with a rare brand of authenticity.

Pierre-Laurent Aimard. Picture: Marco Borggreve

French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard was a friend of Messiaen and a pupil of his pianist-wife Yvonne Loriod, so his performances of the former’s music are stamped with a rare brand of authenticity.

During Sydney Symphony’s International Pianists in Recital at the City Recital Hall on Monday night, his account of Messaien’s 20-movement magnum opus Vingt Regards sur l’enfant-Jesus was a spectacular feat of stamina, concentration, virtuosity and sheer keyboard power.

From the softest whisper to the loudest roar, the simplest phrases to the most intricately detailed textures and the gentlest throbbing pulses to the most complex rhythms, Aimard’s command of tempo, dynamics, metre and tone colour astounded and captivated.

His crystalline articulation illuminated both tinkling treble lines and rumbling bass figures with equal clarity while his sure sense of line revealed the work’s distinctive structure.

Aimard’s exceptional pianistic and interpretative gifts captured the mix of ecstasy and contemplation that lie at the heart of this visionary masterpiece by one of the 20th century’s greatest composers.