Olivier Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time”
In 1941, French composer Olivier Messiaen completed his “Quartet for the End of Time” while imprisoned in a German stalag. The work, regarded as a masterpiece of 20th century classical music, was ingloriously premiered in an unheated barrack on a cold January night, before an audience of fellow prisoners-of-war and prison guards.
On Wednesday, October 6, 2010, the Buffalo Chamber Players, an ensemble comprised of members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and other highly regarded musicians, will perform Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time,” at Buffalo Seminary, to open their 2010-2011 season. The performance will feature Shieh-Jian Tsai on violin, Feng Hew on cello, Robert Alemany on clarinet and Alison d’Amato on piano.
Also presented will be an exhibition and sale of paintings by Catherine Parker, inspired by this great work of music, and created especially for the event. A portion of the proceeds from art sales on this evening will benefit the Buffalo Chamber Players.
The Buffalo Chamber Players is a critically acclaimed chamber ensemble dedicated to exploring the masterworks of the chamber music repertoire. Formed in 2007 by BPO violist Janz Castelo, the Players’ mission is to challenge and redefine the public’s perception of chamber music and to promote the city of Buffalo as an inspiring place to live, work and play.
Catherine Parker is one of the most popular artists in the region. Her work can be found in many private and public collections, including the permanent collection of the Burchfield Penney Art Center.
Olivier Messiaen is one of the most important composers of the last century. Drafted into the French Army at the outset of World War II , Messiaen was taken prisoner by the Germans in 1940. While imprisoned, he composed “Quartet for the End of Time” using the instruments available to him amongst the inmate population—violin, clarinet, cello and piano. Messiaen intended the piece to be a musical expression of the Apocalypse, in both its terrifying and spiritual connotations.
“We are excited to share this collaboration with our audience,” said Buffalo Chamber Players’ Artistic Director Castelo. “I’ve always been captivated by the Quartet’s ethereal beauty and timeless relevance. I was thrilled to discover that my friend Catherine Parker shares this fervor for the work. This performance, pairing Messiaen’s music with Catherine’s paintings, creates a powerful synergy.”
The show is sponsored by 20thcenturyfinest.com. 20th Century Finest, owned and operated by Dean Brownrout, specializes in the purchase and sale of vintage and historically significant art of Buffalo and Western New York.
The event takes place at Buffalo Seminary, 205 Bidwell Parkway, and is open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 PM for the exhibition, and the performance starts at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $15/$5 for students, and available here, and at the door.
