The Music of Orfeo

Watch NOVUS NY, the Trinity Church music orchestra, perform Olivier Messiaen’s Quatuor pour la fin du temps (Quartet for the End of Time), with introduction and narration by Richard Powers.

Filmed at Trinity Church in New York City, November 16, 2023, more info here.

Richard Powers and W.  W. Norton & Company have assembled a suggested discography of some of the more important musical pieces in Orfeo.

Peter Lieberson, Neruda Songs
RECOMMENDED RECORDING: Lorraine Hunt Lieberson sings Peter Lieberson ‘Neruda Songs’ Live (Trumpet Swan, 2006)

Gustav Mahler, Songs on the Death of Children
RECOMMENDED RECORDING: Janet Baker sings Mahler (EMI Classics, 1999)

Olivier Messiaen, Quartet for the End of Time
RECOMMENDED RECORDING: Tashi Quartet (RCA, 1989)

Cage/Harrison/Partch/Young, Barstow
RECOMMENDED RECORDING: John Schneider with Amy Shulman (Bridge, 1993)

Steve Reich, Proverb (Trumpet Swan, 2006)

Dmitri Shostakovich, Fifth Symphony
RECOMMENDED RECORDING: Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted Bernard Haitink (Decca, 2000)