Track Listings (9) - Disc #1| All Artists: Olivier Messiaen, Amici Ensemble, Patricia Parr Title: Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time Members Wishing: 0 Total Copies: 0 Label: Naxos Original Release Date: 1/1/1941 Re-Release Date: 6/19/2001 Genre: Classical Styles: Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830), Instruments, Strings Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC: 636943482421 |
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Search - Olivier Messiaen, Amici Ensemble, Patricia Parr :: Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time
 | Olivier Messiaen, Amici Ensemble, Patricia Parr Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time Genre: Classical
A medical auxiliary during World War II, French composer Olivier Messiaen was captured at Nancy by the Germans in 1940. They sent him to a prison camp in Silesia, where he filled his hours by composing Quartet for the End ... more » |
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Amazon.com A medical auxiliary during World War II, French composer Olivier Messiaen was captured at Nancy by the Germans in 1940. They sent him to a prison camp in Silesia, where he filled his hours by composing Quartet for the End of Time for the potluck ensemble of instrumentalists (clarinet, violin, cello, and piano) whom happenstance had placed with him. It is one of the most haunting and evocative pieces of 20th-century chamber music, and it inspires a fine performance on this Naxos disc by the Amici Ensemble of Canada. There is a forlorn, bleak quality to their sound, as you might expect from prisoners miles from home. They play with no rich, pampered vibrato. Clarinetist Joaquin Valdepenas pecks at the bird calls in the "Crystal Liturgy" and yearns for freedom in the aching "Abyss of Birds." There is throbbing excitement in the "Furious Dance for Seven Trumpets" and a singing lyricism in the short exquisite Intermezzo. The Quartet is complemented on the disc by Messiaen's Theme and Variations for violin and piano, composed in 1932. Scott St. John explores the composer's inventiveness with a burning bow on steely strings, while pianist Patricia Parr touches the steady chords as if pacing out time which, in this piece, seemingly has no end. --Rick Jones Similar CDs
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CD ReviewsA great performance Thomas Martin | USA | 06/05/2007 (5 out of 5 stars) "..irrespective of price. Another winner for Naxos and collectors of great music!." A very good (if not perfect) option indeed G.D. | Norway | 04/07/2009 (4 out of 5 stars) "Naxos has given us several fine Messiaen releases, and this version of the Quatuor is certainly one of them, even if it isn't, in the end, a first choice. The Amici Ensemble puts in some superb touches and some movements are truly wondrous, but there are still certain inaccuracies (the rhythm in the final movement) and questionable choices with respect to interpretation. To take some of the strengths, however: The opening of the first movements is marvelous; clearly textured, hauntingly evocative and perfectly judged in terms of balance between the instruments. Indeed, the following two movements are fabulous as well, both in the dreamlike second movement and the solo clarinet third (Valdepeñas technical abilities are truly remarkable, as is his interpretive approach). The Intermède sounds a little lacking in intensity (but it is still beautiful) and the Louange is unfortunately not as sublime as one could wish for - it is just a little too earthy and sentimental. The Danse de la fureur is very satisfying, however, but in the last two movements something of the ethereal sublimity is again missing, and while the second Louange is generally good, there is the aforementioned problems with rhythm. Sound quality is generally fine, though, and at the price I think no one will be disappointed with this one."
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