Yvonne Loriod

In March 2017, Mstislav Rostropovich would have turned 90. To celebrate this anniversary of one of the greatest cellists of all time, Deutsche Grammophon presents a truly encyclopaedic boxset which for the first time brings together Slavas complete recordings for Decca, Philips, and the Yellow Label (as cellist, pianist & conductor).

The Messiaen celebrations come to an overwhelming climax with this superb 32-CD set of his complete works. The limited edition, from Deutsche Grammophon, is a one-of-a kind deluxe edition. The crowning gem of this box set is a performance of the two piano Visions de l'Amen with Olivier Messiaen and Yvonne Loriod, recorded in Paris in 1962.

La seule réalité se situe dans le domaine de la Foi. C’est par la rencontre avec un Autre que nous pouvons le comprendre. Mais il faut passer par la mort et la Résurrection, ce qui suppose le saut hors du temps. Assez étrangement, la musique peut nous y préparer, comme image, comme reflet, comme symbole. En effet, la musique est un perpétuel dialogue entre l’espace et le temps, entre le son et la couleur, dialogue qui aboutit à une unification. Le musicien qui pense, voit, entend, parle au moyen de ces notions fondamentales, peut, dans une certaine mesure, s’approcher de l’Au-delà.

Herbert von Karajan isn’t alone in celebrating his 100th birthday this year. Among composers whose 100th anniversary falls in 2008, Olivier Messiaen (10 December) is definitely the most important To whet your appetites for further releases in this anniversary year, here is a 1-CD midprice compilation of Messiaen’s ecstatic slow movements: a sequence of eight movements from major works that together make an unforgettable impression: supple in rhythm, subtle in melody and incredibly rich in harmony. Almost like variations on a theme (with plenty of F sharp major too!), the 70-minute disc is uniquely relaxing and moving at the same time – by no means the usual pot-pourri compilation.