Messiaen, O.: 3 Petites Liturgies De La Presence Divine / Webern, A.: 6 Pieces / Cantata No. 1 / Fortner, W.: Aulodie

Featuring

Günter Wand
Tiny Wirtz
Monique Matagne-Cavailles
Anita Westhoff
Lothar Faber
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Olivier Messiaen
Anton Webern
Wolfgang Fortner

Did you know?

1/7

Compositional Technique

Olivier Messiaen's "Trois petites liturgies de la Présence Divine" features an orchestra, solo piano, the electronic Ondes Martenot, and an 18-voice women's choir.

Critical Reception

The 1944 Paris premiere of Messiaen's "Trois petites liturgies de la Présence Divine" provoked strong reactions, ranging from frenetic approval to venomous rejection, comparable to the premiere of "The Rite of Spring."

Performer Biography

Günter Wand, the conductor, was Germany's youngest General Music Director in 1946 and spent nearly 30 years in Cologne, building its orchestra into one of the best in the country.

Composer Biography

Anton Webern, whose works are featured on this album, composed very little in the last decade of his life, a period marked by political unrest, war, and the banning of his music.

Composer Biography

Anton Webern died in 1945, shot in error by a member of the US occupation forces, before his music gained worldwide acclaim.

Critical Reception

Günter Wand's performances of Messiaen's "Trois petites liturgies de la Présence Divine" in Germany often led to audience protests, which Wand addressed by speaking about the piece and then repeating it.