Turangalîla-Symphonie
| Turangalîla-Symphonie | |
|---|---|
| for piano, ondes Martenot, and orchestra | |
| by Olivier Messiaen | |
Messiaen (1986) | |
| Other name | Turangalîla |
| Catalogue | Simeone: I/29 |
| Period | 20th-century music |
| Genre | Symphony |
| Commissioned by | Serge Koussevitsky |
| Based on | Tristan and Iseult |
| Composed | 17 July 1946 – 29 November 1948 (rev. 1990) |
| Dedication | In memoriam Natalie Koussevitsky (manuscript; published copy bears no dedication) |
| Publisher | Durand |
| Duration | about 80 minutes |
| Movements | Ten |
| Scoring | Large orchestra, Ondes Martenot, and piano |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 2 December 1949 |
| Location | Boston |
| Conductor | Leonard Bernstein |
| Performers | Boston Symphony Orchestra Yvonne Loriod (piano) Ginette Martenot (ondes Martenot) |
The Turangalîla-Symphonie is the only symphony by Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992). It was written for an orchestra of large forces from 1946 to 1948 on a commission by Serge Koussevitzky for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Along with the Quatuor pour la fin du temps, the symphony is one of the composer's most notable works.
Leonard Bernstein conducted the premiere in Boston on 2 December 1949, followed by the New York premiere on 10 December. The December 1949 performances included an intermission after the fifth movement; it was the only work on the program. The commission did not specify the duration, orchestral requirements or style of the piece, leaving the decisions to the composer. Koussevitzky was scheduled to conduct the premiere, but fell ill, and the task fell to Bernstein, who never conducted the work again. Yvonne Loriod, who later became Messiaen's second wife, was the piano soloist, and Ginette Martenot played the ondes Martenot for the first and several subsequent performances.
From 1953 on, Yvonne's sister Jeanne Loriod was the ondes Martenot player in many performances and recordings.