Track Listing

1. Turangal�la-symphonie, for piano, ondes martenot & orchestra, I/29: No. 1, Introduction
2. Turangal�la-symphonie, for piano, ondes martenot & orchestra, I/29: No. 2, Chant d'amour I
3. Turangal�la-symphonie, for piano, ondes martenot & orchestra, I/29: No. 3, Turangalila I
4. Turangal�la-symphonie, for piano, ondes martenot & orchestra, I/29: No. 4, Chant d'amour II
5. Turangal�la-symphonie, for piano, ondes martenot & orchestra, I/29: No. 5, Joie du sang des etoiles
6. Turangal�la-symphonie, for piano, ondes martenot & orchestra, I/29: No. 6, Jardin du sommeil d'amour
7. Turangal�la-symphonie, for piano, ondes martenot & orchestra, I/29: No. 7, Turangalila II
8. Turangal�la-symphonie, for piano, ondes martenot & orchestra, I/29: No. 8, Developpement de l'amour
9. Turangal�la-symphonie, for piano, ondes martenot & orchestra, I/29: No. 9, Turangalila III
10. Turangal�la-symphonie, for piano, ondes martenot & orchestra, I/29: No. 10, Final

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77267 in Music
• Released on: 2001-03-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.com
This symphony, commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky and written between 1946 and 1948, is surely one of the 20th century's most gigantic works. It's cast in 10 movements, and its grandeur of scope and concept, variety and sheer mass of sound are virtually unequalled. Scored for an enormous orchestra with multiple wind and percussion sections, the work includes substantial solo parts for piano and ondes martenot, an electronic keyboard instrument invented by Maurice Martenot that can produce all kinds of sound effects in a wide range of dynamics. The title is derived from two Sanskrit words of manifold meanings, but the composer insisted that he chose it only for its "sonority and melodious qualities." The piece centers on the idea of love, symbolized by the legend of Tristan and Isolde, but though its movements bear elaborate titles, it is not to be considered program music.

Messiaen has become something of a cult figure in recent years; for the uninitiated, his music requires some getting used to. The Symphony's most immediately striking characteristic is the orchestration: from gossamer delicacy of single and double lines, through sonorous brass chorales and thunderous percussion, to the literally overwhelming, often chaotic effect of every instrument on stage playing every note in the scale simultaneously. Its most problematic aspects are its length, repetitiousness, and static quality: the slow movements feel as if time had truly come to a standstill. Obviously, it requires great skill, concentration, and dauntless courage to bring such a work to life, and the performers on this disc succeed brilliantly. Aimard, who studied the piano part with Yvonne Loriod, the wife of the composer and primary exponent of his music, is terrific, and the orchestra sounds ravishing in a score undoubtedly far removed from its tradition. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews

Nagano Sets the New Standard!
There are simply few words that can describe the absolute magnificence of this recording. Nagano assembles this vast mosaic in the most masterful way I can imagine. It is at once breathtaking and orgiastic! The Berlin Philharmonic is playing at their highest level....Aimard was made to play this work. The piano is well balanced with the ondes marenot and the rest of the ensemble. The recording itself is very clear. The various tempi are clearly defined within each of the movements. I would recommend this disc to anyone who has a love for great music, even if you already have a recording of the Turangalila. Nagano, Aimard, Kim, and the Berlin Philharmonic set the new standard of excellence for this colossal and imaginative work!

a huge splendid hymn to joy!
Great things don't always come in great packages, but this one certainly does! A typically gorgeous Teldec production, complete with the legendary Teldec sound. The TURANGALILA is vast and sprawling, but I find it endearing and easy to love. It is full of jarring juxtopositions, as when the 4th movement, featuring a grave Beethoven-like 5-note motif, is followed by the 5th movement's cheerful pop melody. Aimard is spectacular throughout on piano.

Messiaen, like Lutoslawski, bridges the early and late 20th centuries, and I can hear Debussy and pop and jazz elements along with foreshadowings of Xenakis in this optimistic and gargantuan music. According to Messiaen, the TURANGALILA-SYMPHONIE "...is a hymn to joy, a joy that is superhuman, overflowing, blinding, unlimited." Clearly an expression of Messiaen's deep Catholic faith, the symphony could scarcely be more different from the austere devotion of an Arvo Part!

Messiaen played to the hilt
Kent Nagano has alot to say about Messiaen and he does so here with the aid of the great Berlin Philharmonic in their first recording of this wonderful work.

Kent Nagano and the Berlin Philharmonic paint Messiaen's masterpiece on the grandest scale. Berlin use all the range of color and power that is has in its command and this is the best playing I have heard in this recording.

I like the recording very much to, with the possible exception of the last minute...where the recording does get somewhat cloudly. As exciting and as well played as last movement is, I think Nagano push the music to hard in terms of tempo. This music can still all the power and excitement without being pushed so far.

Other then the tempo of the last movement there is nothing here to quibble about. I would say that this is now the recording to have---Chung comes very close, next in line I would say. If you have a recording of this already, try to make room for this recording as well.