Quartet for the End of Time

the documentary about Olivier Messiaen's WWII masterpiece

OFFICIAL SITE

A music documentary about Olivier Messiaen’s transcendent masterpiece, that he composed in a World War II prison camp, and debuted there on January 15, 1941. This film was completed on the 75th Anniversary of that historic premiere, and features “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band Ensemble performing in rehearsal and at The Phillips Collection, in Washington, D.C.

Available in streaming, DVD and Blu-ray formats

The Complete Film
Stills from the Film
Production & Presentation History
Shooting the U.S. "President's Own" Marine Band at the Barracks Annex in Washington, D.C.
Shooting the U.S. "President's Own" Marine Band at the Barracks Annex in Washington, D.C.
Görlitz, Germany
Görlitz, Germany
Meetingpoint Music Messiaen e.V.
Meetingpoint Music Messiaen e.V.
Me and the Meetingpoint Team of Frank Seibel, Franz-Peter von Boxalaer, Katarzyna Giżecka and Anna-Maria Hantschke
Me and the Meetingpoint Team of Frank Seibel, Franz-Peter von Boxalaer, Katarzyna Giżecka and Anna-Maria Hantschke
From Görlitz, we cross the Polish border to the former World War II prisoner camp
From Görlitz, we cross the Polish border to the former World War II prisoner camp
A memorial plaque at Stalag VIII-A
A memorial plaque at Stalag VIII-A
The memorial campus
The memorial campus
European Center of Education and Culture
European Center of Education and Culture
Building by Christian Weise Architecture
Building by Christian Weise Architecture
Exhibit on Stalag VIII-A
Exhibit on Stalag VIII-A
A glimpse of musical life in the prisoner camp
A glimpse of musical life in the prisoner camp
Original program bulletin for the Quartet's premiere
Original program bulletin for the Quartet's premiere
Opposite side of the original program bulletin
Opposite side of the original program bulletin
Photo of the stage where the Quartet premiered
Photo of the stage where the Quartet premiered
Every year on its anniversary, there is a performance of the Quartet here
Every year on its anniversary, there is a performance of the Quartet here
Looking out into the forest of Stalag VIII-A
Looking out into the forest of Stalag VIII-A
The distinctive design motif of vertical windows
The distinctive design motif of vertical windows
Today's trail through the former prisoner camp
Today's trail through the former prisoner camp
Original barbed wire fencing off Stalag VIII-A
Original barbed wire fencing off Stalag VIII-A
Matthias Beier sculpture, meant to evince birdsong and soundwaves
Matthias Beier sculpture, meant to evince birdsong and soundwaves
A waste receptacle from the original camp
A waste receptacle from the original camp
A trough from the original camp
A trough from the original camp
Matthias Beier sculpture, depicting angelic trumps
Matthias Beier sculpture, depicting angelic trumps
Closer view of Matthias Beier's angelic sculpture
Closer view of Matthias Beier's angelic sculpture
More ruins of the original camp
More ruins of the original camp
This Matthias Beier sculpture marks the precise location of the Quartet's premiere, shown with historian Natalia Kozik
This Matthias Beier sculpture marks the precise location of the Quartet's premiere, shown with historian Natalia Kozik
At the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne, I am being shown original prints from Albrecht Dürer's "Apocalypse" series
At the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne, I am being shown original prints from Albrecht Dürer's "Apocalypse" series
Curator Dr. Thomas Ketelsen shows me the print featured at the beginning of this film
Curator Dr. Thomas Ketelsen shows me the print featured at the beginning of this film
“Saint John Devouring the Book” by Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)
“Saint John Devouring the Book” by Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)
Seeing these was a rare privilege, because they are almost never brought out into the light/exhibition, at risk of fading
Seeing these was a rare privilege, because they are almost never brought out into the light/exhibition, at risk of fading
Interiew in I Care If You Listen
Interiew in I Care If You Listen
World Premiere Screening at the original site of Stalag VIII-A
World Premiere Screening at the original site of Stalag VIII-A
Canada premiere screening
Canada premiere screening
U.S. premiere screening hosted by Chiarina Chamber Players
U.S. premiere screening hosted by Chiarina Chamber Players
U.S. Premiere Screening on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Premiere Screening on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Premiere Screening on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Premiere Screening on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Karen Johnson and Christopher Schmitt
Karen Johnson and Christopher Schmitt
Char Prescott and Patrick Morgan
Char Prescott and Patrick Morgan
Christopher Schmitt, Char Prescott, Patrick Morgan, Karen Johnson
Christopher Schmitt, Char Prescott, Patrick Morgan, Karen Johnson
Christopher Schmitt, Char Prescott, Patrick Morgan, H. Paul Moon, Karen Johnson
Christopher Schmitt, Char Prescott, Patrick Morgan, H. Paul Moon, Karen Johnson
Untitled-1
Untitled-1
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