Your favorite part of Messiaen, 'Quartet for the end of time' ?

(be as specific as you want, at your own peril)

A work that keeps on giving, IMO

I like, on this listen (to the RCA/Peter Serkin):
*the pleasantly unexpected tonal resolution of the interlude, followed by
*the "infinitely slow" floating piano chords of the 'Eternity of Jesus' movement (check the Ondes Martenot version while you're at it!)

the final movement, Louange à l'Immortalité de Jésus, is most transcendent imo but you're right, i never get tired of listening to the whole piece

Any particular recording you prefer?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00004TL2R/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=556244467&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000001G8W&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0CFSWN6AX84Y9JBTQA2Y

this one

Oh hey cool, found my own thread while searching for a generic ILM thread about (string) quartets! Big thanks to Noodle Vague for that outstanding recommendation, which has indeed become one of my favorites :)

Any chance you could recommend a recording of Schubert's string quartet no. 14 ('Death and the Maiden')? Listening to David Lang's song cycle Death Speaks has me curious to hear it...

don't know so much with that one. i see there's at least one Quartetto Italiano recording, i really like their Beethoven Quartets

Thanks, I'll check it out... I've bumped the "POX: String Quartets" thread, hoping that will produce a recommendation!

As for Messiaen, it's been a while since I've been moved to hear anything of his (besides the aforementioned "Oraison" for 6 ondes Martenot, which I cherish like a priceless heirloom) -- may have to remedy that with a listen to the quartet this weekend!

I've Belcea Quartet play that Schubert live, and bought their recording of his quartets, both of which I liked a lot... But I'm not at all familiar with Schubert in general, so I've no reference point with any other performances.

On the Messiaen tip, I found this recent recording of Turangalila to be tremendously moving and in general awesome. It's become my favourite version of it, particularly when it comes the sound quality - certainly better than the "official", Messiaen-approved version Deutsche Grammophon released in the early '90s.

"I've heard Belcea Quartet..."