The Messiaen Nexus
This disc offers an extraordinary insight into the intellectual and creative talent of a fertile period at the Paris Conservatoire. Centred on Olivier Messiaen, the programme of violin and piano works traces his influence on students György Kurtág, George Benjamin and Pierre Boulez, and the mark of his teacher Paul Dukas.
Paul Dukas composer
György Kurtág composer
Pierre Boulez composer
Olivier Messiaen composer
Violinist Elizabeth Sellars and pianist Kenji Fujimura gather chamber works that map the Paris Conservatoire circle around Messiaen: Benjamin’s three-movement sonata, Dukas’s elegiac prelude, Kurtág’s Tre Pezzi and later solo violin pieces, Boulez’s Anthèmes, and Messiaen’s own memorial for Dukas and the early Fantasie.
Reviews
This disc should be praised as much for thoughtful programming as for musicianship.
Sellars and Fujimura focus on chamber works for violin and piano deriving their inspiration from the Paris Conservatoire under Messiaen's period of tutelage. ★★★★
Sellars and Fujimura have created a most entrancing and expressive rendition of these technically advanced and challenging works for violin and piano. Even though Messiaen is only represented in two of the 14 tracks, the title of the disc refers to his relationship and influence on the other composers in the period of the Paris Conservatoire – as a teacher of pupil. Benjamin, Dukas, Kurtág and Boulez's works are modern yet differ vastly in their style. The pieces selected comprise works for solo violin as well as violin pieces accompanied by piano. The virtuosity of these accomplished performers is displayed as well as their ensemble skills. Each work draws the listener in on an emotional journey although the sounds are at first new and foreign. Through their intellectualism and stylistic mastery, these eclectic works are very satisfying to listen to, and music which one would want to hear again.
Artists
Elizabeth Sellars
Australian-born violinist Elizabeth Sellars, is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music in London where she studied with David Takeno (violin) and the Takacs String Quartet (chamber music).
Kenji Fujimura
Dr Kenji Fujimura (piano) is a multi- award-winning pianist and composer, with many broadcasts on ABC-FM/TV, MBS-FM, BBC Radio3 and Bravo!Canada to his credit. Concert, masterclass, and adjudication engagements have taken Kenji throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia.
Audio previews
Tracks
- i. 8:19
- ii. 6:25
- iii. 7:37
- Prélude élégiaque Paul Dukas 4:41
- i. 2:18
- ii. 1:10
- iii. 2:39
- Anthèmes for solo violin Pierre Boulez 9:30
- Pièce pour le tombeau de Paul Dukas Olivier Messiaen 3:32
- Doloroso (Garzulyéknak) György Kurtág 1:41
- Anziksz Kellerandnak György Kurtág :27
- Calmo-Sognando (Stefan Romascau in memoriam) György Kurtág 1:50
- In Nomine – all'ungherese (Damjanich emlékko) György Kurtág 5:10
- Fantasie Olivier Messiaen 7:27
Sonata for violin and piano George Benjamin
Tre Pezzi, Op. 14e György Kurtág
Performers
- Elizabeth Sellars · all except tracks 4 and 9
- Kenji Fujimura · tracks 1–7, 9 and 14
Composers
Paul Dukas
Paul Dukas (1865–1935) was a French composer, critic and teacher whose surviving works are few but exacting. He is best known for the orchestral scherzo The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992) was a French composer, organist and ornithologist whose colour-rich, rhythmically intricate music stands among the major achievements of the twentieth century.
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez’s music is tightly argued and often brief, yet full of sudden colour, rhythmic snap and hard-edged attack. His Douze Notations for piano pack twelve distinct characters into a few concentrated minutes.
Where to listen
The Messiaen Nexus is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
The Messiaen Nexus is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3369
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 62 minutes 46 seconds
- Release date
- 2013
- Musical work
copyright - © 2013 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2013 Move Records
- Category
- Classical
- Genres
- Modernist Classical, Contemporary Classical
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574336924
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