[TALK & PERFORMANCE] Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time
organized by University Museum and Art Gallery
Viewed by HKU and Public
Event Type: Performance Arts (music, dance, drama etc.)
Event Discipline: Culture and Arts

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was one of the most important musical figures of the 20th century, and also one of its most fascinating. He had a particular fondness for bird songs, which he documented meticulously. Another key aspect of his life was his Catholic faith. Both of these elements were integral to his composition Quartet for the End of Time, which was written and first performed during the Second World War, at a time when the composer and many other musicians were prisoners of war.

‘End of Time’ is a biblical reference from the Book of Revelations, which offers visions of a new world revealed after the apocalypse. Rather than being concerned with the end of the world, Messiaen’s quartet is about evocations of heaven and timelessness. The intimate setting of the Drake Gallery in the Fung Ping Shan Building provides the perfect setting for the contemplation of such ideas. The events will include an introductory talk by Dr Martin Lee in the afternoon followed by a performance from the TimeCrafters at 15:00-16:30, and then a second evening concert at 20:00-21:00.

This event is jointly organised by TimeCrafters and the University Museum and Art Gallery, HKU.

Date/Time 25/05/2019 15:00-16:30 Venue Drake Gallery, 1/F Fung Ping Shan Building, University Museum and Art Gallery, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam Language Cantonese Programme hide programme 15:00 to 15:30 Talk by Dr Martin Lee 15:30 to 16:30 Performance by TimeCrafters (Same as the evening concert at 20:00-21:00)

Registration is open from 31/01/2019 16:00(HKT) to 24/05/2019 12:00(HKT) on a first-come-first-served basis. The registration quota for this event is 140.