Flawless Ensemble Music by Messiaen, recommended by PATRIC STANDFORD harmonia mundi    HMC 901987

Messiaen's Theme and variations is a less familiar work written in 1932 for his first wife, violinist and composer Claire Delbos, whom he had married in June of that year. Preceding the Quartet by some eight years, and a product of the received traditional resources of the time, it already shows some of the harmonic voluptuousness and rhythmic excitement (though still quite conventional) of his later style.

Through the first four variations the speeds increase until the final fifth, the climax of the piece, is reached with a passionate restatement of the theme, a sound that was to become a hallmark of his stylistic personality,

until the violin descends in its register to a quiet ending. A magnificent early work, played exquisitely by Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian and Vincent Coq.

With Raphaël Pidoux, cello and Pascal Moraguès, clarinet, they present a superb performance of the Quartet for the End of Time

with impressive solo contributions, flawless ensemble, and speeds that exactly meet Messiaen's intentions, giving his lines the breadth and sonority they require, and his rhythmic schemes all the power and drive needed to make them live.

This highly recommended performance is all the better for being recorded with clarity and warmth.

Record Box is Music & Vision's regular series of shorter CD reviews