11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ongaku recording tops them all, October 6, 2004
This review is from: Olivier Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time (Audio CD)
Reviewer: Richard E. Cross "lisztian" (Tarrytown, NY) - See all my reviews
The recent release of Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time is spectacular both in performance and sound quality. Janice Weber's formidable playing is astounding, her subtle, nearly-inaudible pianissimos ethereal. The magical slow movements capture the mysticism of the work more than my previous recording . The solo violin, cello and clarinet moments are superb.
This is a five-star performance.
Richard E. Cross
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inhuman perfection, January 8, 2009
This review is from: Olivier Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time (Audio CD)
This astonishing performance blows away any and all previous recordings of this magnificent work. Ilya Kaher, probably the greatest living violinist, is only one component here of a musical collaboration that makes Tashi sound arid by comparison. Yes, the two Louanges are breathtaking and sensitive almost beyond comprehension (hallelujah Janice Weber!!!), but there is not a moment anywhere here where any performer fails to achieve transcendence. (The filler Theme and Variations for violin and piano, from 1932, are also a major revelation.)
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