Olivier Messiaen
22
Audio CD
28 offers from $12.18

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1	Turingalila Sym: I. Intro - Michel Beroff/Jeanne Loriod
2	Turingalila Sym: II. Chant D'Amour 1 - Michel Beroff/Jeanne Loriod
3	Turingalila Sym: III. Turangalila 1 - Michel Beroff/Jeanne Loriod
4	Turingalila Sym: IV. Chant D'Amour 2 - Michel Beroff/Jeanne Loriod
5	Turingalila Sym: V. Joie Du Sang Des Etoiles - Michel Beroff/Jeanne Loriod
6	Turingalila Sym: VI. Jardin Du Sommeil D'Amour - Michel Beroff/Jeanne Loriod
7	Turingalila Sym: VII. Turangalila 2 - Michel Beroff/Jeanne Loriod
8	Turingalila Sym: VIII. Developpement De L'Amour - Michel Beroff/Jeanne Loriod

Disc: 2

1	Turingalila Sym: IX. Turangalila 3 - Michel Beroff/Jeanne Loriod
2	Turingalila Sym: X. Final - Michel Beroff/Jeanne Loriod
3	Conc Champetre: I. Allegro Molto - Simon Preston
4	Conc Champetre: II. Sicilienne (Andante) - Simon Preston
5	Conc Champetre: III. Finale (Presto) - Simon Preston
6	Con in g: Andante-Allegro Giocoso- - Simon Preston
7	Con in g: Andante Moderato- - Simon Preston
8	Con in g: Tempo Allegro, Molto Agitato- - Simon Preston
9	Con in g: Tres Calme, Lent- - Simon Preston
10	Con in g: Tempo De L'Allegro Initial- - Simon Preston
11	Con in g: Tempo Intro, Largo - Simon Preston

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Messiaen's massively entertaining and funky Turanalila Symphony established his reputation as a modern master at a stroke. The title is Sanskrit, and means something like "Cosmic Love-Death-Play of the Universe"--and the music sure lives up to this description. In ten movements, with major solo parts for piano and an electronic instrument called an Ondes Martenot (it sounds like one of the those wailing synthesizers in horror movie flicks), the music alternates luscious, Hollywoodesque love music with moments of total insanity. It's not for the timid, but it's also hugely entertaining. Poulenc's two Concertos are also hugely entertaining, but in a more conventional way. Performances are uniformly outstanding, and the sonics are super. Super sonics-- get it? Never mind. --David Hurwitz

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 5 x 0.3 inches; 1 Pounds
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ EMI Classics
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ January 24, 2007
Label ‏ : ‎ EMI Classics
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000002SFI
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2

Best Sellers Rank: #307,053 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #6,217 in Classical Concertos
- #10,195 in Symphonies (CDs & Vinyl)

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Samuel Stephens

Exemplary Messiaen and Poulenc

Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2007

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If there ever was an "All-Out" work, then Messiaen's Turangalila-symphonie takes the cake, by far. This is a sprawl and a half.
Most of it is enjoyable. When it isn't, it can be grating. I personally find the opening to be both enjoyable and grating at the same time. The ten movements are all very interesting in their own ways, though I can see how some areas could be tightened. The slow movement material is essentially all the same. Most enjoyable however is the second movement.
If you are easily annoyed by a lot of percussion instruments, then this could very well be your hell. Messiaen uses a wide array of percussion instruments, including piano and the painfully `cute' sounding Ondes-martenot. A very rich textured work, which I enjoy immensely...but make sure you know what you're getting yourself into.

This CD also has another very worthy purpose: it provides two very good performances of Poulenc's Organ Concerto, and the harpsichord Concert Champetre. Both are top-notch works: dramatic, vivacious, and moving. Simon Preston plays both keyboard instruments here superbly.
Five stars.

10 people found this helpful

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Libbie Jo Snyder (Consignment)

Good Music Performed by Great Musical Organizations

Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2015

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Wonderful composers and recordings. I received it in a surprisingly short time.

One person found this helpful

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Lawrence Rapchak

PREVIN'S THE ONE!

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2015

I absolutely agree with the other reviews posted here.

When the Chung/composer-approved version was released on DGG, I thought the matter of Turangalila recordings was finally settled. But no, I went back to my Previn LP set, and realized how very special his recording is. So I purchased this modestly-priced EMI set, and have never looked back.

Previn is a master in this music; the performance and recording are first-rate. The conductor's lengthy Hollywood/jazz career have indeed served him well in bringing the lushness and rhythmic complexities of this garish, Technicolor score to life. You won't believe the BALANCES; every note of the score is audible (including the Ondes Martenot, unlike Chung's recording, where its unique sounds are frequently buried in the texture), and EMI's typically warm, spacious sound only adds to the wonder of the experience. Occasionally, tempi can be a tad sluggish (eg: the "previews" of the Love Theme in the bizarre second movement), but this is a minor quibble, considering the totality of Previn's achievement.

As long as we're discussing Andre Previn's output, let me put in a plug for his 1975 EMI/London recording of Prokofiev's 5th Symphony, a work which I've always had problems with----until I listened to Previn's version. The man absolutely understands every phrase and nuance of the work, and literally revealed to me its greatness and stature. The conductor's equally fine Prokofiev 7th rounds out the CD.

But if it's Turanglila you seek, LOOK NO FURTHER than Previn's 1978 version.

LR

4 people found this helpful

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Bone

My favorite version

Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2013

Amazing! I have many versions - Chung, Salonen, Chailly, and Nagano - and I picked this up on a lark. Never been terribly impressed with Previn's conducting: his Rachmaninov is okay, but everything else i'be heard just comes across as dull to me. So imagine my shock when I got this recording. Wow! Superb orchestral control - balances are unbelievable - and a grasp of nuance and emotion that I never expected to hear in a Previn recording. Seriously, don't bother with other versions: this is the one!

6 people found this helpful

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Scriabinmahler

Awesome Performance!

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2008

This magnificent & wonderfully detailed recording of Turangalila Symphony surpasses most of rivals including somehow over-rated Rattle's EMI recording. Previn captures the kaleidoscopic complexity of the music vividly as well as structural coherency of the whole. Slow movements are as evocative as can be. The finale is overwhelmingly powerful. As with his acclaimed EMI recording of Vingt regards, Michel Beroff is brilliant, displaying masculine yet sensitive pianism apt for Messian's music (You can enjoy this work as a piano concerto too, with such a awesome playing).

Poulenc's two concertos are given equally impressive performances here, but the music itself does not interest me.

Recording quality of all works included here is top class.

6 people found this helpful

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K Collins

Superb!

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2004

Having twice heard the piece performed live, by the LSO in London and the Orchestre de Lyon in Edinburgh, I highly recommend this recording which captures the intensity and immediacy of a live performance.
Messiaen's music is exquisite!

9 people found this helpful

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John Waring

Odd Coupling; Great Performances

Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2022

Verified Purchase

Messaien's Turangalila Symphony and the Poulenc concertos represent two widely different types of music. The Messaien is kaleidoscopic, while the two Poulenc works are far more traditional sounding.
But each work is favored by an outstanding performance by Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra., whose precision and idiomatic expression are amazing and rewarding.
Turagalila is in ten well-varied sections, with changing colors and the sounds of many percussion instruments. The piano is played by Michel Beroff and the ondes martenot by Messaien's sister-in-law, Jeanne Loriot.
Before I listened to the work, i was concerned as to whether it would retain my interest, but I soon found myself immersed in the kaleidoscopic effects and instrumentation, finding the music at turns wildly exciting or hypnotic.
Poulenc's Harpsichord Concerto is filled with his bittersweet harmonies and peppy melodies. Simon Preston is outstanding, fully able to keep up with the often fast tempi, accurately and musically. He is equally masterly in the Organ Concerto. The power of the organ and the depth of the timpani make that a weightier work, the string orchestra contributing to the mouthwatering harmonies. Its catchy tunes add to the production of twenty-four special minutes.
The sound and balance, so important in these works, are ideal.
Don't let this one get away!

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J. McDonald 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Messiaen: Turangalîla Symphony; Poulenc: Concert Champêtre, Organ Concerto.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2021

Verified Purchase

This recording of Messiaen`s Turangalîla Symphony was my introduction to the work – I discovered it in my local library as a two-cassette set in the early 90s – so I'm pleased to have found it again on CD.
One of the top recommendations for this spectacular 10-movement piece for an enormous orchestra – including an ondes martenot, played here by Jeanne Loriod, the composer's sister-in-law; the work is paired on this 2-disc set with Poulenc's popular organ concerto, and his Concert Champêtre with Simon Preston as the soloist on both harpsichord and organ.
It's an interesting set, with André Previn conducting the LSO in both the Messiaen and Poulenc works.
A very satisfying double; the CDs have playing times of 67.43 minutes and 60.58 minutes – it's a shame there are no sound samples available.

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Messiaen: Turangalîla Symphony; Poulenc: Concert Champêtre; Concerto in G

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Track Listings

Disc: 1

Disc: 2

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Product details

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