Quartet for the End of Time – Messiaen

The piece ‘Quartet for the End of Time’ by composer Olivier Messiaen will be performed at the Gallery of Matica Srpska, on 18 June, starting at 8 pm, as part of the NEO Festival within the Fortress of Peace programme arch.

Paradoxically, direct witnesses of horrors become the most productive creators whose works are remembered forever. One of the most important composers of the 20th century, Olivier Messiaen, was in the army from the very beginning of World War II, and only a year later he ended up at the camp, where his composition for piano, cello, violin, and clarinet – Quartet for the End of Time premiered in front of 400 prisoners.

Although half a year later the musicians were released and returned to France, the composer noted that he was never listened to with more attention and comprehension.

That is why even today, as the European Capital of Culture, we listen to this work, performed by musicians from different parts of the world, from Serbia and Japan: Shinnosuke Inugai (piano), Aleksandar Tasić (clarinet), Marko Miletić (cello) and Julija Hertig (violin).

Programme:

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992): Quartet for the End of Time, for clarinet, violin, cello and piano

I Crystal liturgy
II Vocalise, for the Angel who announces the end of time
III Abyss of birds
IV Interlude
V Praise to the eternity of Jesus
VI Dance of fury, for the seven trumpets
VII Tangle of rainbows, for the Angel who announces the end of time
VIIIPraise to the immortality of Jesus

The music piece is based on a quote from the ‘Book of Revelation’ in which the composer describes this work: Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the Sun and his legs like pillars of fire. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, saying: ‘There would be no more delay: in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled.’

Free entrance.

Photo: Jumpei Tainaka