Kent Nagano with Messiaen
Kent Nagano with Messiaen
Kent Nagano Leitung
Yury Favorin Klavier
Nathalie Forget Ondes Martenot
Prélude
16. Apr 2026, 18.00 Uhr
Kleine Tonhalle
Künstlergespräch und Kammermusik
Olivier Messiaen's Turangalîla Symphony for large orchestra, piano and Ondes Martenot, premiered in 1949, is one of the most important works of the 20th century. Due to its large and unusual instrumentation and playing time of around 80 minutes, it is nevertheless rarely performed - the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich played it for the last time in 2008. It is now being conducted by Kent Nagano, who knew Messiaen well. He had once sent the composer a recording with a request for feedback; the reply was a four-page letter, typed on a typewriter in single spacing, with countless interpretative notes. This was the beginning of a close collaboration and friendship that lasted until Messiaen's death in 1992.