£20.00 – £40.00
Echoes of Eternity
Thursday 6th February 2025
Doors open 6:30 PM | Performance begins at 7:00 PM
National Liberal Club
1 Whitehall Place
London SW1A 2HE
Echoes of Eternity
A Feast for the Senses
The Tait Trust presents a captivating pairing of Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time and Maurice Ravel’s Piano Trio.
Messiaen’s profoundly moving Quartet for the End of Time was written during his imprisonment in a prisoner-of-war camp in 1941. This extraordinary work reflects the depth of his faith, his love of birdsong, and his reverent belief in the sanctity of human life. It is as intricate and emotionally resonant today as it was at its premiere, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Complementing Messiaen’s masterpiece is Ravel’s luminous Piano Trio, a work of shimmering beauty and elegance that blends cultural influences, emotional depth, and Ravel’s unparalleled mastery of texture and color.
Together, these two iconic works promise an evening of profound reflection and timeless artistry.
Join us on February 6, 2025, at the National Liberal Club for an extraordinary evening of music, history, and artistry. This unforgettable concert will feature the acclaimed Seraphim Trio (Anna Goldsworthy, Helen Ayres, and Timothy Nankervis), joined by guest artist Magdalenna Krstevska on clarinet.
Artists
Seraphim Trio
Anna Goldsworthy, piano
Helen Ayres, violin
Timothy Nankervis, cello
Guest artist
Magdalenna Krstevska, clarinet
The program showcases two monumental works by French composers that transcend time and place:
- Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time – Composed during his imprisonment in a German prisoner-of-war camp in World War II, this masterpiece captures the profound depths of human endurance, faith, and transcendence. Its ethereal beauty and spiritual resonance make it one of the most celebrated chamber works of the 20th century.
- Ravel’s Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello – Written during World War I, this passionate and dynamic trio reflects the turbulence of the times, filled with breathtaking lyricism and striking intensity.
Both works, born out of the darkest periods in modern history, offer an unparalleled feast for the senses, embodying resilience, artistry, and hope.
Tickets: £40 General Admission, £35 for Tait Friends, £20 Students / Concessions
(Includes glass of wine on arrival, pay bar)
📍 National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2HE
⏰ Doors open 6:30 PM | Performance begins at 7:00 PMDon’t miss this unique opportunity to experience two epic masterpieces performed by some of the finest musicians of our time.
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PROGRAMME
- Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time
- Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time is one of the most extraordinary pieces of music ever written. It wasn’t composed in the comfort of a studio or a concert hall, but in a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp camp during World War II. In 1941, Messiaen, a French composer and devout Catholic, was a prisoner at Stalag VIII-A in Germany. Despite unimaginable conditions, he created a masterpiece that continues to inspire audiences around the world. The first performance of the quartet took place in the camp itself. With a mismatched group of fellow prisoners—playing on a battered piano, a clarinet with a cracked mouthpiece, a cello with just three strings, and a violin—they performed for an audience of inmates and guards. Messiaen later recalled that the bitter cold and the intense emotions of the moment created a setting unlike any other.The music itself is deeply spiritual, inspired by the Book of Revelation from the Bible. The title refers to a passage where an angel proclaims the end of time—not in destruction, but in the promise of eternal peace. This vision of hope must have been a profound source of comfort to Messiaen and his fellow prisoners.A hallmark of the piece is its use of birdsong, something Messiaen loved to incorporate into his music. To him, birds symbolized freedom and beauty—qualities that must have felt out of reach in the camp. By weaving bird calls into the music, Messiaen brought a sense of the natural world, and perhaps a glimmer of hope, to a place defined by suffering. The quartet’s unusual combination of instruments—piano, clarinet, violin, and cello—was born out of necessity. These were the musicians and instruments available in the camp. Yet Messiaen turned these limitations into something timeless and transcendent. His music is full of strange and beautiful rhythms and harmonies, designed to lift listeners out of the ordinary and into a sense of the eternal. For audiences today, Quartet for the End of Time is not just a piece of music—it’s a testament to the human spirit’s resilience. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is room for faith, creativity, and hope.As you listen to this extraordinary work, imagine the circumstances of its creation: a composer in captivity, musicians playing against all odds, and an audience of prisoners and guards united by a shared moment of beauty. It’s a story that speaks to the power of music to transcend time, place, and suffering.
- Ravel’s Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello
- Maurice Ravel’s Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello is a work of breathtaking beauty and sophistication. Written in 1914, on the eve of World War I, it captures the dazzling creativity and emotional depth for which Ravel is so beloved. At its heart, the trio is a blend of elegance and poignancy—a mix of shimmering textures and heartfelt emotion. Ravel wrote the trio during a turbulent time. The shadow of war loomed over Europe, and Ravel himself felt the pull of duty to enlist in the French army. Determined to complete this work before heading to the front, he worked tirelessly, pouring his genius into every measure. The result is one of the greatest chamber music compositions of the 20th century. What makes the Trio so extraordinary? For one, Ravel’s mastery of color and texture. He was often called a “musical painter” because of the way his music evokes vivid images and emotions. The combination of piano, violin, and cello allowed Ravel to weave a rich tapestry of sound—sometimes delicate and transparent, other times lush and dramatic. The music also reflects Ravel’s fascination with different cultures and traditions. In the opening movement, you’ll hear a lilting rhythm inspired by Basque folk music—a nod to Ravel’s childhood in the Basque region of France. The second movement, a lively scherzo, is full of energy and surprises, while the slow third movement is deeply introspective, almost like a prayer. The finale is a burst of passion and brilliance, bringing the trio to an exhilarating close. But there’s more to this music than its beauty—it’s also a testament to Ravel’s resilience. Though his health was fragile and the pressures of war weighed heavily on him, Ravel’s creativity never faltered. In fact, he once remarked that he had “worked harder on this trio than on any other composition.” His effort paid off: the Trio has been cherished by audiences and musicians alike for over a century. As you listen to Ravel’s Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello, let yourself be carried away by its elegance and emotion. From the sparkling melodies to the profound, tender moments, this music invites us to pause, reflect, and feel. It’s a reminder of the beauty that can emerge even in uncertain times—a gift from Ravel to the world.
past concerts
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Stars of Covent Garden in Recital – March 9th
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Leslie Howard and Friends – March 16th
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The Golden Age of Musical Theatre – March 23rd
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Joseph Tawadros AM – The Art of the Oud – March 2nd
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Ein schöner Abend with Annabelle Traves – April 27th
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