In the history of modern recording the legendary partnership
of Andre Previn with the London Symphony Orchestra compares in magnificence
with the tenure of Fritz Reiner at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for
consistent high quality of repertoire, performance and sonics. Many
of these analogue recordings were originally produced in 4 channel surround
sound and EMI have now begun releasing them in one of the new DVD sound
formats.
There is still confusion surrounding DVD sound disks, regarding format
and compatibility with existing players, and several "compatible"
formats have emerged in which the same disk is playable in several ways.
This double sided EMI disk contains the same program in four formats.
Side A will play on DVD players (but not on CD players) and contains
a four channel ("4.0") AC-3 encoded surround sound format
recording and a 2.0 channel Linear PCM stereo version of the identical
program in "48/24," that is, 48KHz sampling frequency and
24bit sample depth. On the television screen one sees a pleasing abstract
still graphic. One may select the tracks using the arrow keys on the
remote for the DVD player. One can also switch back and forth between
the two sound formats with keys on the remote. On this particular disk
there is no informative text video display.
Side B again contains two versions of the identical program, one in
48/24 MLP encoded 4.0 surround sound and one in 48/24 2.0 stereo; however
these are only playable on dedicated DVD-Audio players and when this
is accomplished the quality of sound improves another quantum jump over
side 1. The dynamic range is richer and orchestral detail so clear that
following with a score becomes superfluous, most especially in the surround
sound version. Once you hear this, you'll not bother to listen to any
other part of the disk.
Jeanne Loriod was the composer's sister-in-law, and is a noted performer
on the ondes martenot (a sort of keyboard operated Theremin-like electronic
instrument) having played in the first recording of this work under
the composer's supervision. Pianist Michel Béroff won a first
at the Paris Conservatoire in 1966, as well as First Prize in the Olivier
Messiaen International Piano Competition and has recorded Szymanowski,
French classics, and concertos by Prokofiev, Bartók and Stravinsky
for EMI.
The composer explains that turanga is Sanskrit for movement or rhythm,
and lila means love in a spiritually playful sense, so Turangalila can
be translated as "love dance" or "love music" and
indeed the first and third movements (out of 10) are subtitled Chant
d'amour. Another movement is entitled, characteristically, "Joy
of the Blood of the Stars," followed by "Garden of the Sleep
of Love." Although this is one of three works composed by Messiaen
in the mid-1940s relating to the Tristram and Iseult legend, and although
the texture of the music ranges from the softest to the loudest, from
the sweetest to the roughest, it never at any time sounds anything like
Wagner. At times the music is quiet, consoling, ethereal, magically
beautiful, reflecting, however remotely, the composer's interest in
birdsong. But tonality is strained almost to bursting when things really
power up, with the pianist rapidly banging double fistfuls of notes,
gamelan volleys and artillery fire from the percussion. At such moments
the brass are captured braying like a hundred angry elephants, accompanied
by wild whoops from the ondes martenot and one is very grateful for
every byte of the 48/24 sampling. Yet this wild, innocently raucous
sound is surprisingly easy on the ears. The improved dynamic range is
also an important advantage (I am extremely sensitive to compressed
dynamics, and when listening to compressed recordings often develop
a headache and find myself gasping to get my breath). Because of the
greater precision, one can tolerate a higher peak volume. I have never
enjoyed this music more nor felt closer to it. This is one of the clearest
examples in my whole experience with recorded music of superior sound
quality fulfilling a truly musical purpose.
For Messiaen aficionados, modern music specialists and sound buffs,
a must-have recording. For any music lover, worth a listen.
Paul Shoemaker
Olivier
MESSIAEN (1908 - 1992) 
London Symphony orchestra/André
Previn