Boulez performs Messiaen: Poèmes pour Mi, Sept Haikai, etc.

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Messiaen (1908-1992) is one of the more important figures in contemporary music. He was the first French composer to surpass the reputations of Debussy and Ravel and take French music into the 20th century. Poémes pour Mi (1937) is a cycle of nine songs that take in both tonal and atonal elements--an extraordinary success. Le Réveil des oiseaux (1953) is a pointillistic exercise of somewhat harsher chromaticism than his earlier work. A parallel consistency is found in his Sept Haïkaï (1962) where he attempts to capture the sound of birds in a Japanese garden. Messiaen, Lutoslawski, Ligeti--these guys were true pioneers. --Paul Cook

Tracks:

Poemes pour Mi, pour grand soprano dramatique et orchestre: Premier Livre - I. Action de graces: Le ciel, Et l'eau
Poemes pour Mi, pour grand soprano dramatique et orchestre: Premier Livre - II. Paysage: Le lac comme un gros bijou bleu
Poemes pour Mi, pour grand soprano dramatique et orchestre: Premier Livre - III. La Maison: Cette maison, nous allons la quitter
Poemes pour Mi, pour grand soprano dramatique et orchestre: Premier Livre - IV. Epouvante: Ha, ha...ho!
Poemes pour Mi, pour grand soprano dramatique et orchestre: Deuxieme Livre - V. L'Epouse: Va ou I'Esprit te mene
Poemes pour Mi, pour grand soprano dramatique et orchestre: Deuxieme Livre - VI. Ta Voix: Fenetre pleine d'apres-midi
Poemes pour Mi, pour grand soprano dramatique et orchestre: Deuxieme Livre - VII. Les Deux Guerriers: De deux nous voici un
Poemes pour Mi, pour grand soprano dramatique et orchestre: Deuxieme Livre - VII. Le Collier: Printemps enchaine
Poemes pour Mi, pour grand soprano dramatique et orchestre: Deuxieme Livre - IX. Priere exaucee: Ebranlez la solitaire
Le Reveil des oiseaux pour piano solo et orchestre
Sept Haikai: Esquisses japonaises, pour piano solo et petit orchestre: I. Introduction
Sept Haikai: Esquisses japonaises, pour piano solo et petit orchestre: II. Le Parc de Nara et les lanternes de pierre
Sept Haikai: Esquisses japonaises, pour piano solo et petit orchestre: III. Yamanaka - Cadenza
Sept Haikai: Esquisses japonaises, pour piano solo et petit orchestre: IV. Gagaku
Sept Haikai: Esquisses japonaises, pour piano solo et petit orchestre: V. Miyajima et le torii dans la mer
Sept Haikai: Esquisses japonaises, pour piano solo et petit orchestre: VI. Les Oiseaux de Karuizawa
Sept Haikai: Esquisses japonaises, pour piano solo et petit orchestre: VII. Coda

Amazon.com

Messiaen (1908-1992) is one of the more important figures in contemporary music. He was the first French composer to surpass the reputations of Debussy and Ravel and take French music into the 20th century. Poémes pour Mi (1937) is a cycle of nine songs that take in both tonal and atonal elements--an extraordinary success. Le Réveil des oiseaux (1953) is a pointillistic exercise of somewhat harsher chromaticism than his earlier work. A parallel consistency is found in his Sept Haïkaï (1962) where he attempts to capture the sound of birds in a Japanese garden. Messiaen, Lutoslawski, Ligeti--these guys were true pioneers. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Boulez and Messiaen - A Winning Combination.......2001-06-08

Pierre Boulez is not only one of the leading conductors of the last quarter of 20th century, but he is also a noted composer himself. As such, Boulez understands the importance of showcasing and recording the work of fellow contemporary composers. He has recently made memorable and award-winning CDs of the music of Bartok, Mahler, Ligeti, Varese, and Carter among others. After purchasing and enjoying Boulez discs of the above composers, I decided it was time to check out the music of Olivier Messiaen. I initially picked up two DG titles - "Et Expecto/Chronochromie" and this disc, "Poemes pour Mi/Sept Haikai/Le Reveil des oiseaux." Both CDs feature music that is atonal, difficult, complex, haunting, obscure and for some, it will be inaccessible. Messiaen's music has as much in common with avant-garde jazz of the 60s and 70s (though his music precedes that improvisational music), as it does with the classical music of the last century. In fact, coming from a jazz background, I was amazed at the similarities, particularly in the solo passages, between Messiaen's works for piano and orchestra, "Le Reveil des oiseaux" and "Sept Haikai" (featuring the piano talents of Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Joela Jones respectively), and the jazz compositions of Cecil Taylor and Marilyn Crsipell. By contrast, the disc's opening selection, "Poemes pour Mi," is passionate and serene, largely due to the vocal talents of soprano Francoise Pollet. In all, Messiaen's music may not be for everyone, but this disc is highly recommended for fans of modern classical music.

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