Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time

Building a Library on Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time. Kate Molleson in conversation with Andrew guides us through this unique work of chamber music which deals with different aspects of time.

Messiaen was captured by the German army in 1940. As a prisoner of war he managed to obtain some paper and a small pencil from a sympathetic guard. The quartet was premiered at the camp, outdoors and in the rain in 1941. The musicians had beaten-up old instruments and an audience of fellow prisoners and guards. Messiaen said: "Never was I listened to with such rapt attention and comprehension." Messiaen was inspired by a text from the the Book of Revelation: "And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire."

Recommended recording:

Marie-Madeleine Petit (piano)/ Hugette Fernandez (violin)/ Jacques Neilz (cello)/ Guy Deplus (clarinet)
WARNER CLASSICS 2564621622 (18CD)
From the Messiaen Edition - An 18 CD set offering a comprehensive overview of Messiaen’s work in recordings made between 1963-2000
For more information: Messiaen Edition on Warner Classics

Other recommended recordings:

Below is a shortlist of other recordings which Kate Molleson also liked, although we can’t guarantee the availability of these discs.

Pascal Moragues & Trio Wanderer: Vincent Coq (piano)/ Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabedian (violin)/ Raphael Pidoux (cello)/ Pascal Moragues (clarinet)
Harmonia Mundi HMC 901987

Olli Mustonen (piano)/ Joshua Bell (violin)/ Steven Isserlis (cello)/ Michael Collins (clarinet)
Decca 452 899-2

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