Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps

The unusual instrumentation – violin, cello, clarinet and piano – reflects the only musicians available in the camp. In his darkest hour, Messiaen created one of his most profound works, meditating on the end of time. On the 80th anniversary of its premiere, the ensemble already performed the piece once together – in Görlitz, where it was written. The programme fits perfectly with the Hamburg International Music Festival’s motto »End«, also featuring Elliott Carter’s »Epigrams« – a set of twelve short pieces and one of the last works he composed before his death.

In addition to the two major works, the four artists explore other duo and trio formations: Jörg Widmann and Pierre-Laurent Aimard perform Alban Berg’s Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 5, while Isabelle Faust and Jean-Guihen Queyras join forces for Ravel’s groundbreaking Sonata for Violin and Cello.