What's On ⇁ 2017 Season ⇁ The End of Time

Manchester Collective / Redmond Journey to the End of Time
Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time

Manchester Collective begin their tenure as ensemble in residence at The Stoller Hall with Messiaen's harrowing masterpiece: "Quartet for the End of Time".

At the heart of our project is a musical journey of discovery - BBC broadcaster and presenter Tom Redmond will lead the Collective as they completely take apart and reassemble Messiaen's Quartet, taking the audience through this staggering work with the help of live excerpts from the musicians, and a unique "behind the scenes" insight into the process of preparing such a monumental piece.

Following this, four of the most outstanding musical talents in the UK will bring this explosive work to life in performance - violinist and MC Music Director Rakhi Singh, cellist Guy Johnston, clarinettist Fraser Langton, and pianist Simon Parkin.

Audiences will have the unique opportunity to experience this work performed in the round - in addition to regular seating in the stalls at Stoller Hall, 60 audience members will be seated on stage, around the musicians.

Messiaen's Quartet was written in 1941, while the composer was interned at a Nazi prisoner of war camp in Germany. It was premiered by fellow inmates to an audience of about 400 prisoners and guards, outside, in the rain.

Messiaen later said of the premiere: "Never was I listened to with such rapt attention and comprehension".

Performances

Manchester / Sat 12 Dec 2017
The Stoller Hall

Artists

Presenter Tom Redmond

Rakhi Singh Violin
Guy Johnston Cello
Fraser Langton Clarinet
Simon Parkin Piano