The fourth and final volume in
Paul Kim's complete survey of
Olivier Messiaen's piano music for Centaur covers the early, formative works, and one posthumous discovery, the mature Prélude (1964). Since the first three volumes contain the most characteristic and celebrated pieces, such as the catalogs of bird songs, the visionary sacred works, and the rhythmic studies, this last installment of Impressionistic pictures and miniatures in search of a style may be less compelling to the average
Messiaen buff. But because
Kim has set out to record this composer's entire keyboard oeuvre, these minor pieces must be included, if grouped at the end in a kind of addendum. Even so, this album may not be dismissed as an uninteresting catchall, for there is enough of interest and value in the set of Préludes (1928-1929), the stylistically transitional Les offrandes oubliées (1930), and the puzzling Fantasie burlesque (1934) to sustain one's attention; and
Kim has performed all the pieces with the same passion and commitment to quality he devoted to the much larger and more taxing masterpieces.
Kim's labor of love has come to a satisfying conclusion with this CD, and the project -- at least five years in the making -- is a resounding success. Centaur's reproduction is excellent.