Well, Jolly Roger you are absolutely right!! This is fascinating music.
The dramatic music is very turbulent at times, and quite lyrical at others.
This puts the high drama of the music in some context:
From
http://contemporaryperformance.org/events/joanna-tentata"Inspired by the supposed possession, Joanna Tenata tells the tale of a Mother Superior possessed by demons and the man who tries to save her.
It is a story about dogmas, exorcism and love, what is based on real event occurred in 17th century, with Ursuline nuns of the town of Loudun in France.
It is a love story about a man and a woman who wear church clothes, and whose religion does not allow them to love each other. The devils that possess these characters are the external manifestations of their repressed love."
The same story has been set as an opera by Penderecki - "The Devils Of Loudon", as well as being the story behind Ken Russell's notorious film "The Devils" - which starred Vanessa Redgrave as Mother Jeanne, and Oliver Reed as Pere Grandier.
