LDV49.1

66 MESSIAEN_THE ORGAN WORKS Did he come to rehearsals? Rarely. But he did come for the radio broadcasts from Saint-François-Xavier (one of the finest Parisian instruments at that time, even if no one mentions it much nowadays), La Trinité and also Saint-Séverin, where he pulled the stops. When he performed that function, the composer disappeared behind the registrant, who did his job with great seriousness and professional conscience. He was very endearing, humble and accessible. Speaking of Saint-Séverin, Bernadette Thiry recalls an amusing anecdote. Michel Chapuis, a rail enthusiast, had salvaged a copper plate that had originally beenfixed beside a trainwindowandwhich said ‘è pericoloso sporgersi’ (It is dangerous to lean out). He placed it on the edge of the organ gallery. Seeing it, Messiaen exclaimed in all seriousness: ‘Be careful, make sure you don’t go near the edge of the gallery, it’s dangerous.’ Humour or naivety? In fact, no one knew . . .