Photo: Chris Christodoulo. Source.

One should never miss a live performance of Messiaen’s ecstatic Turangalîla-symphonie!!!

My Messiaen page has links to many posts on Messiaen, and a tribute to Turangalîla—with the NYO’s 2012 Prom performance, and some hilariously uncomprehending reviews of the 1949 premiere (“Dorothy Lamour in a sarong […] Hindu Hillbillies”, “straight from the Hollywood cornfields”).

Ginette Martinot, who gave the premiere of Turangalîla. Source.

Last week at the Proms it was directed by the enterprising Nicholas Collon, with the BBC Philharmonic (British orchestras dominating so far; European and US bands can wait till later in the season). Cynthia Millar, veteran of the ethereal ondes martenot, added yet another radiant performance of a piece she has played around 200 times, including several Proms since 1986—for players limited to such a small repertoire, * Messiaen is a blessed gift (see Millar’s tribute to Jeanne Loriod). Steven Osborne relished Messiaen’s unique piano writing, with a niche backing-group of celesta and glockenspiel right behind him. I’m always entranced by the hushed coda that concludes the 4th movement, before the exhilarating Joie du sang des étoiles. Sensuous orchestral timbres abound.

Source.

While experiencing Turangalîla live is extraordinary, for balance it’s worth listening on BBC Sounds, and it’s on iPlayer too. At the Proms it was first heard in 1969, with Musica Reservata performing Renaissance music in the first half (surely I was there, so why isn’t it indelibly etched in my memory?!). This time the prelude was the world premiere of Anna Clyne’s The gorgeous nothings, with the seven-piece a cappella Swingles, amplified, joining the orchestra—reminding me to acquaint myself with the poetry and reclusive life of Emily Dickinson. For a groovy encore (Erica Jeal asks pertinently “Is it bad etiquette to give an encore that upstages the main work?”) the Swingles launched into their joyous arrangement of the Bulgarian dance piece Bučimiš (studio version here; its metre is 2+2+2+2+3+2+2, BTW—see Taco taco taco burrito!). An encore after Turangalîla seems inconceivable—but in 2012 the NYO found a perfect one—Anna Meredith’s Handsfree!

Fans of the ondes martenot will want to hear the theremin too! Many more a cappella gems here; more Bulgarian folk under Musical cultures of east Europe.

Other recent Proms treats include Ravel‘s delightful piano concerto (with Ives’s Three places in New England), and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in blue (Steven Osborne again).

* This site mentions 1,200 works (!), although the core concert repertoire consists of pieces by a mere 27 composers.