The Frontier between Piano and Orchestra
01/18/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This recording of Visions de l'Amen with Edmund Niemann and Nurit Tilles (Double Edge) reveals all the power of Olivier Messiaen's piano writing. One can perfectly hear an entire orchestra with a huge variety of instruments just as it happens in Messiaen's music for orchestra. The broad chords of the main theme start softly and go on in an continuous crescendo while the second piano creates those fantastic sounds of bells, birds and percussion also typical for Messiaen. In the central piece, L'Amen du Désir, the influence of Debussy is clearly demonstrated by these two pianists. Undoubtly this is a superb and unique recording of this extremly difficult piece."