Messiaen's "St. Francis" Opera : My Holy Grail

Completed and first staged in 1983, Messiaen's mammoth 4 hour opera requiring a huge orchestra, and the lead singer to be on stage for almost the full 4 hours, is not heard often. Finally, "OpusArte" has released a 3 disc DVD of a live performance. I have been fascinated with this unique composer for 5 yeas now, and was hoping a new recording replace an older, unavailable product. This is the one significant composition of his huge repertoire that I haven't heard. Here it is and it is sumptious. Yes, you have to relax and wallow in the sound of the orchestra which is onstage as a character all in itself, and pace yourself. It is a marvellous production. In this clip an angel appears to St. Francis and the leper, whom Francis cures with a kiss.