The Second World War for Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was not only a difficult period but also a fruitful period. During this time he wrote the "Quatuor pour la fin du temps", the "Visions de l'amen", the "Trois petites liturgies" and "Vingt regards sur l'efant Jésus". The latter work is a monumental cycle for piano, consisting of 20 meditations on the baby Jesus. The "Vingt regards" were dedicated
… to Ivonne Loriod, who premiered in 1945. A number of good performances of the "Vingt regards" have now been released on CD (including on Naxos by AustbÝ). The Gramophone wrote about the recently released performance by Joanna MacGregor: "... she communicates a real love for the sound-world of this cycle, wich is just as often sensuous and pianistic as it is mystical. (...) This new version (...) is the best piano recording I have heard for a long while ... "(Gramophone, May 1996). (HJ) _more
