Olivier Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time
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Brand: SHAHAM,GIL/WANG,JIComposer: Olivier Messiaen
Performer: Myung-Whun Chung
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2001-01-09
Music Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Soundtracks:
- I. Liturgie De Cristal
- II. Vocalise, Pour L'Ange Qui Annonce La Fin Du Temps
- III. Abime Des Oiseaux
- IV. Intermede
- V. Louange A L'Eternite De Jesus
- VI. Danse De La Fureur
- VII. Fouillis D'arcs-en-ciel, Pour I'Ange Qui Annonce La Fin Du Temps
- VIII. Louange A L'lmmortalite De Jesus
Music reviews of Olivier Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time
Music Review: Definitive Performance
Rating: 5 Stars
This Messiaen masterpiece was composed and first performed in a Nazi prison camp. The program for this piece is the revelation of St. John the Divine. It is scored for violin, clarinet, cello, and piano. You would expect a piece composed in a prison camp and based on biblical text to be powerful, and this one certainly is.
This extraordinary piece of music lives or dies on the strength of the musicians; both as ensemble musicians and as soloists. Virtuosity is a must. Ensemble work is critical in the first and second movements. The second movement (Vocalise for the Angel who announces the end of Time) has an extended passage for violin and cello, accompanied by simple chords on the piano. The violin and cello are in unison octaves for much of this movement. Shaham and Wang played this movement very well in tune. Messiaen calls this middle section of the movement "impalpable harmonies of heaven" where the violin and cello are engaged in "quasi-plainsong chanting".
The third movement (Abyss of the birds) introduces the soloistic aspects of this piece. This is an extended clarinet solo, expertly played by Paul Meyer. Technical difficulty abounds..the clarinet has to play in all the registers, at all the dynamics, and with varying coloration. Long sostenutos, difficult runs, it's everything a clarinettist might have nightmares about. In Meyer's hands, it sounded like a walk in the park.
The opening of the fourth movement (Interlude) contains some minor intonation issues between the violinist and cellist, mainly when they are on open strings. Octaves are dangerous, as any musician will tell you. The ensemble intonation is perfect in the sixth movement (Dance of frenzy, for the seven trumpets).
The fifth movement is a gorgeous extended cello solo (Eulogy to the Eternity of Jesus), played with tremendous sensitivity by Jian Wang. It is achingly beautiful, and requires tremendous musicianship. While it contains no firework runs, the lines are very long, and the writing takes the cellist well up in thumb position. Wang made every single note sing. The complementary movement to this is the extended violin solo eighth and final movement (Eulogy to the immortality of Jesus), played by the incomparable Gil Shaham. It is just amazing, and Shaham is brilliant as usual. Let's just let Messiaen (through translator Anthony Pople) explain it: "It is all love. Its slow ascent towards the extreme high register is the ascent of man towards his God, of the Child of God towards his Father, of the deified Being toward Paradise." No one could have said it better.
Highly recommended.
Description of Olivier Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time
No Description Available.Genre: Classical Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 9-JAN-2001
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