Olivier Messiaen

[Contratrombone64]

I just purchased the diffinitive (according to Messiaen) recording of Turangalila-Symphonie ... orchestra of the Paris opera, Myung-Whun Chung. I'm deliriously happy with it.

[Contratrombone64]

And this just made me weep - to see such passionate playing from such youngsters. There's hope for the world.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv67YkOWJNA

[Tûrwethiel]

Wow! Bless them. And I'm assuming that's Sir Colin?

[toto]

(Not the one in the black frock!)

[Contratrombone64]

huh @ toto

Yes - Tur, it's Sir Colin indeed.

[Tûrwethiel]

Ah, the one in the black frock must be playing out of tune.

[toto]

No – she's the ondes Martenot player. (... not the cat's mother!)

[Fretless]

I'm very tempted to buy the complete organ works of Messiaen. I've had it on my wishlist for ages, but since it was recently my b-day, I may indulge. I really enjoy a lot of Messiaen's work--especially the Turangalila.

[Contratrombone64]

Fretless - not all of Messiaen's work is as accessible as Turangalila (to me at least) I own two sets of his organ works (one played by him and the other by Latry, both at St. Sulpice).

[Fretless]

The one I'm looking at is with Latry.
Turangalila is definitely the most accessible Messiaen I have heard. I'm familiar with a small bit of his organ work, Vingt Regards, Chronochromie, Quartet for the End of Time, and a few of his other orchestral works. I have not been as fond of his other orchestral stuff as I have of the keyboard works.
The organ stuff I've heard had some moments where pitches went on for extended lengths of time, changing ever slowly, and some places where it had clusters of color and big volume, and I liked all of that. Maybe it's the solo element I like--his music really brings me into inner realms that I have difficulty reaching all by myself or with other music.

[Kuhlau]

I've just listened to Messiaen's L'Ascension in its orchestral garb, having previously known it only in its version for solo organ. I have to say that, for me, it takes on more colour and life when played by many musicians rather than just one.

FK