Olivier Messiaen belongs to the musical record as a figure whose work outlasted the moment that produced it.
The record lists Olivier Messiaen as French composer, organist and ornithologist (1908–1992).
Olivier Messiaen was born at Avignon in 1908. His recorded nationality is France. He trained at Conservatoire de Paris.
Recording arrived in this generation and changed everything: a performance could now outlive the performer.
He worked as composer, organist and ornithologist.
The instruments recorded are organ.
His work is classed as opera and symphony.
He performed with Academy of Arts of the GDR and Jeune France.
Among his best-known works are Saint François d'Assise, Éclairs sur l'au-delà... and Thème et variations. Music outlives its context more reliably than any other art, and usually for reasons its makers did not predict.
Recognition followed: Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (1986), Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Commander of the Order of the Crown (1990) and Bach Prize of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (1979).
That the work came out of France shaped it: musical traditions, training institutions and the reach of a recording industry all differ by country.
Olivier Messiaen died in 1992, aged 84. The recordings and scores remain, which is the only durable form a musical life takes.
Achievements
- Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour — 1986
- Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Commander of the Order of the Crown — 1990
- Bach Prize of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg — 1979
- Erasmus Prize — 1971
- Notable work: Saint François d'Assise
- Notable work: Éclairs sur l'au-delà...
- Notable work: Thème et variations
- Notable work: Quatuor pour la fin du temps
- Instruments: organ
