Messiaen Organ & Piano Recs

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I've totally ignored Messiaen's organ and piano music up till now. Would like to get some  recommended recordings (as well as some discussion of the music more generally).

[Mandryka]

Quattre Études de rythme -- Paul Jacobs 

The Vingt Regards --  "Joyce Hatto"'

Catalogue d'Oixeaux -- Ugorsky

Visions d'amen -- Peter Serkin/ Yuji Takahashi; Loriod/composer

If anyone's interested I'll upload the Hatto, which is according to Wikipedia "A copy of a performance by Paul Kim, recorded for Centaur in January 2002, time-stretched (slowed down) by 2.4%"

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Any1 heard this disc? Angela Hewitt plays a selection of Messiaen, incl. some etudes, preludes, and excerpts from "Regarding Jesus":

http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Hewitt-plays-Messiaen-Olivier/dp/B000007SZO

[canninator]

I've totally ignored Messiaen's organ and piano music up till now. Would like to get some  recommended recordings (as well as some discussion of the music more generally).

I'm in a rush so can't discuss at length but the most fiscally responsible choice would be the Hill box set for piano and Weir for the organ. These can be found at very agreeable prices. I also have Loriod in the Vingt regards which is my personal go to recording. I have heard the Aimard but can't recall much about it.

I have the Hewitt you were discussing. I am not  a big fan of taking the sections of the Vingt regards out of context so I wouldn't recommend on that basis alone. The playing is excellent as would be expected although a bit heavy handed for my taste.

Don't know the recordings Mandryka recommended, they could well be superior to the Peter Hill set.

[snyprrr]

jennifer bates for the organ? unicorn-k

[bhodges]

Paul Jacobs's recording of Livre du Saint-Sacrement is fantastic, and has been nominated for a Grammy this year--totally deserved.  I reviewed it here:

http://www.juilliard.edu/journal/2010-2011/1011/articles/discoveries.html

Some piano CDs I like:

Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus (Aimard)
Visions de L'Amen (Marilyn Nonken, Sarah Rothenberg)

--Bruce

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

That does look interesting Bruce...but I get the impression you have to be a real organ-head to enjoy it, and I'm not (yet).

Is there a decent 1-disc sampler of M's organ music?

[bhodges]

Velimir, some friends have recommended this one, a single CD of some shorter pieces that looks excellent.  But I caution: I have not yet heard it!  However, I have heard Kevin Bowyer perform live (in a Xenakis piece!), and he's a terrific musician.  And this is a reasonably recent recording (2004):

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Works-Organ-1/dp/B0002R8G5C/ref=sr_1_71?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1292266062&sr=1-71

--Bruce

[Scarpia]

Listened to the first four movements from this one:

[asin]B003VC520W[/asin]

Liked it more than I expected to.

[Todd]

For the Vingt Regards I would strongly recommend Peter Serkin.  Michel Beroff and Steven Osborne aren't too shabby either.

For the organ music, though I have less exposure to it, the Olivier Latry set on DG is pretty spiffy, and benefits from the Notre Dame organ which sounds superb.

[MishaK]

Paul Jacobs's recording of Livre du Saint-Sacrement is fantastic, and has been nominated for a Grammy this year--totally deserved. 

Seconded.

Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus (Aimard)

Also seconded. Absolutely first choice.

[asin]B00004R7UX[/asin]

I also rather like these two:

[asin]B001EUB6RG[/asin]

[asin]B00000149Q[/asin]