Search - Olivier Messiaen, Riccardo Chailly, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra :: Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie

Likely the best Turangalila recording

T. Herion | Philadelphia, PA | 02/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After hearing the 2003 Philadelphia Orchestra performance with Eschenbach conducting, I went on a search for the finest recording. Many Messiaen fans turned me towards the original recording by Seiji Ozawa and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (recently re-released on CD by RCA Red seal) however I have to respectfully disagree.... completely.



This recording by the Concertgebow orchestra has been the finest recording I have heard. I think it is unfortunately ignored, in large part because it is the most recent release in a long line of other interpretations. This may also be precisely why it is such a fine recording.



The sound quality of this recording is by far better than any other, including the DVD audio release by EMI (LSO and Previn). I don't have an SACD audio system, but even without the fancy extra frequencies this recording is crystal clear.



This Concertgebow recording also includes the cleanest performance of this tremendously difficult piece. I was surprised to hear so many inaccuracies in the other major recordings, but there's no doubt about it-- they have some very sloppy moments. The Concertgebow on the other hand, is extraordinarily precise.



So far, the reasons have been fairly objective, but now for the subjective interpretation: This is overall the most tasteful performance. The tempos for movement V. Joie du sang des etoiles and X. Finale may be the fastest I've heard on recording, but they are incredibly satisfying. This is in comparison to Seiji Ozawa's interpretation which is many times so slow as to just barely make it through.



Jean-Yves Thibaudet is bright and energetic on the piano and Takashi Harada plays the Martenot wonderfully. I also have to say that this is the smoothest sounding Ondes Martenot I've heard recorded.



I hope that Turangalila fans will do themselves a service and check out this recording. I imagine that they will fall in love with the piece one hundred times over. And if anyone is new to the piece, I highly recommend hearing this one first."

Hypnotic -- give this one a chance

peteyspambucket | New York, NY | 11/18/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very hypnotic piece. And haunting. It rewards you with repeated listenings. The music is very modern, but you'll get used to the "vocabulary". The quieter sensitive moments are gorgeous, while the outbursts are interesting and shattering. It has been very nicely recorded, even though parts of the piece are quite dense and thickly orchestrated, the sound quality highlights the important instruments very well."