Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.

Hyperion offers both CDs, and downloads in a number of formats. The site is also available in several languages.

Please use the dropdown buttons to set your preferred options, or use the checkbox to accept the defaults.

Click cover art to view larger version
Track(s) taken from SIGCD126

Pièce pour piano et quatuor à cordes

composer
1991

Soloists of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Matthew Schellhorn (piano)
Recording details: February 2008
Potton Hall, Dunwich, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Produced by Rachel Smith
Engineered by Peter Newble
Release date: July 2008
Total duration: 3 minutes 7 seconds
 

Reviews

'A worthwhile and distinctive release' (Gramophone)

'Admirers of Messiaen’s music will simply have to have this record, for it contains the world premiere recording of a solo piano piece, Morceau de lecture à vue composed in 1934 for the sight-reading examination at the École Normale de Musique … the record merits a strong recommendation for the performances of the other, more well-known music here. The result is an excellent issue, dominated as it is by the masterly Quartet for the end of time which still, after seventy years, packs a considerable punch in terms of emotional expression—especially in such a fine performance as it undoubtedly receives in this instance' (International Record Review)» More

‘ 'A heart-stoppingly beautiful performance … listeners who love Quatuor pour la fin du Temps owe it to themselves to hear this stellar version' (AllMusic, USA)

Alfred Schlee (1901-1999) was a legend in the world of music publishing – one of the leading lights of Universal Edition in Vienna, and a loyal supporter of Messiaen’s music. Messiaen and Yvonne Loriod gave house concerts at Universal Edition’s offices in 1946 and 1947, and in the 1950s, Universal Edition published two important pieces by Messiaen: Cantéyodjayâ and Oiseaux exotiques – both thanks to Dr Schlee’s enthusiasm. When Dr Schlee celebrated his ninetieth birthday with a concert in Vienna on 18 November 1991, twenty distinguished composers wrote pieces for a concert. Messiaen, in the last year of his life, was too frail to attend; but he was one of the distinguished composers – along with Boulez, Berio, Kurtág and others – who wrote a work celebrating the occasion. The result was the Pièce for piano and string quartet, in which jagged chords and more lyrical phrases alternate with the rapid song of one of Messiaen’s favourite birds, the Garden Warbler.

from notes by Nigel Simeone © 2008

Waiting for content to load...
Waiting for content to load...