PERFORMERS
- Jonathan Cohen, clarinet
- Josefina Urraca, piano
- Julia Yang, cello
- Mari Lee, violin
ABOUT THE CONCERT
Olivier Messiaen composed the Quatuor pour la fin du temps in 1940-41 while a prisoner of war at Stalag VIII-A in Gorlitz, and it was first performed there in January 1941 for an audience of fellow prisoners, scored for the four instruments available to him: violin, clarinet, cello and piano. Inspired by the Book of Revelation and its angel who declares that there shall be time no longer, its eight movements range from the shimmering "Liturgie de cristal" to the radiant closing "Louange a l'Immortalite de Jesus." Messiaen (1908-1992), a devout Catholic, organist and pioneer of rhythm and birdsong, produced in these extraordinary circumstances one of the most visionary and enduring chamber works of the twentieth century.