Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)

[vers la flamme]

I hope you watched that 'Noel' video in reply #507 a few posts above on this page - that is one of the Vingt (No.13) played for the composer by his wife - as such it's very moving.

You're right—amazing. Thanks.

[aukhawk]

Batagov is highly unusual, actually, if you'll forgive me, with an almost Rachmaninov-like heavy, both emotional and spiritual approach, and getting and hearing that recording completely changed the work's appeal for me. I also have or have had Beroff, Hill (now culled), the early Loriod (which I also liked somewhat), and the old Oliveira on Vox, whose recording I don't remember anything about, but whose 'Catalogue ...' I like.

Oooh I didn't know about Batagov.  Such a natural fit for this music.  Looks like one of his earliest recordings (1989) but still, characteristically slow - even more so than Osborne (and by quite a margin sometimes).  Thanks for mentioning him, I shall look forward to this!
At the opposite end of the spectrum would be Momo Kodama, who is a specialist in the French piano repertoire with a crystalline technique.  Loriod is always good I think (I like her Oiseaux, more lyrical than most) but the sound is a bit dated in such a contested field.

[Selig]

Who's the fastest in Vingt regards, the anti-Batagov?

[aukhawk]

Without actually checking any durations, I'd guess probably Loriod herself.  She takes a surprisingly unsentimental view in Messiaen's music generally.  Also, I acquired Pi-hsien Chen not so long ago but was disappointed - too quick for my taste.

[Mandryka]

Over the past few weeks I've been listening fairly frequently to La Rousserolle Effarvatte, which is Book 4 of  the Catalogie d'oiseaux. This one by Peter Serkin, not even mentioned on the cover of the release, has caught my imagination most. Somehow, and I really cannot explain how, he seems to bring coherence to this bizarre sectional music, which to me can often appear rambling and disjointed.  I'm not sure whether I'm noticing anything objective about the performance, or whether I've become more tolerant of confusing music.

Such a shame he didn't record more Messiaen from the period after 1950.

[Mandryka]

Attention everyone. This one's worth hearing. Why? Because she understands colour! And she can use it to make the music sound coherent. Somehow.  There's some info on Jocy de Oliveira, who's a new name for me, on wiki.

[atardecer]

I'm interested in a recording of Messiaen's organ music. If anyone has any thoughts or recommendations on this topic let me know.

As I posted a while back I was recently 'blown away' by Apparition de l'Eglise éternelle. This fascinating work (La Nativité du Seigneur) is what made start to appreciate Messiaen's music:

[aukhawk]

I highly recommend the set of 6 CDs played by Jennifer Bate (can sometimes be found very cheaply pre-loved).  Initially released on Unicorn in the early '80s, these are now re-mastered on the Regis label.
Bate was a frequent collaborater with the composer, and these recordings were each approved by him before publication.  She played the organ at Beauvais Cathedral in northern France, a sumptious acoustic (exceptionally high vaulting) recorded by legendary engineer Bob Auger.  in 1987 Bate was asked to make the premiere recording of Messiaen's last great organ work, his Livre du Saint-Sacrement, which she did in the composer's 'home' church in Paris, on 'his' organ, with him in close attendance.  That forms the last 2 CDs of this set.

You can also find rather elderly recordings of Messiaen playing his own music - his recording of Apparition de l'Eglise éternelle is absolutely thunderous.

[Mandryka]

There is a new monograph about the Catalogue d'oiseaux written by noted Messiaen experts Roderick Chadwick & Peter Hill. Worth checking out.

Excellent - thanks for mentioning it. (I only saw the a few weeks ago, I wasn't aware of the book before.)

I've just discovered an outstanding Messiaen pianist - Ciro Longobardi.

[atardecer]

Just came across this early Messiaen organ piece (apparently he criticized later). Sounds great to my ears. Really conjures a certain mood. I suspect certain works don't challenge composers enough or something, as a result they later underestimate them. Similarly Ravel criticized his Pavane pour une infante défunte, and Debussy his Rêverie. All excellent works in my view.

Messiaen - Diptyque