Turangalila-Symphonie
Olivier Messiaen
Work background
Researched classical background
Messiaen's ten-movement Turangalila-Symphonie combines a virtuoso piano part with the electronic sound of the ondes Martenot and a large percussion section. Recurring themes connect movements concerned with love, time, joy, and contemplation. Highly active rhythmic writing alternates with suspended, luminous passages. The work belongs to Messiaen's group of pieces associated with the Tristan legend, without retelling the opera's plot scene by scene.
Inspiration and creative background
Messiaen associated the work with the Tristan theme of overwhelming love and explained its recurring thematic symbols.
Turangalila-symphonie - LA Phil
Work identity, chronology where stated, and the specific musical or historical context summarized in this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
A listening guide
Compare the sharply struck piano and percussion sounds with the sustained ondes Martenot, and follow the recurring love theme.
Listening suggestions are editorial guides to the music.
Forces: Solo piano, ondes Martenot, and large orchestra with expanded percussion
Composition: 1946-1948
Commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky; Leonard Bernstein conducted the Boston premiere in 1949.
This entry describes the musical work or cycle. Composition, premiere and publication dates describe different events. Performers and recordings can be explored through the external listening search.
Turangalila-symphonie - LA Phil
Work identity, chronology where stated, and the specific musical or historical context summarized in this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Sources for this work
Turangalila-symphonie - LA Phil
Work identity, chronology where stated, and the specific musical or historical context summarized in this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
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