Quatuor pour la fin du temps
Messiaen’s vision of time dissolving
- Available soon €18.00
- 20:00
- MIRY Concertzaal, Gent
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- HOGENT
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Olivier Messiaen wrote his Quatuor pour la fin du temps shortly after the start of the Second World War, while he was being held as a French prisoner of war in a German camp. The first performance also took place in that camp, Stalag VIII A in Görlitz. For this intense work, so charged by its unique genesis, the composer found inspiration in the small pocket Bible the Germans allowed him to keep. Messiaen was particularly drawn to the Book of Revelation. The ‘end of time’ does not refer to the destruction of the world, but to the falling away of the dimension of time itself, as foretold in John’s text by an angel: “There will be no more time.” Perhaps there was no composer more capable than Olivier Messiaen of translating ‘timelessness’ into music. The Quatuor went on to become one of the most iconic compositions of the turbulent 20th century. For Annelien Van Wauwe, it is an exceptionally powerful work, one that leaves neither performers nor audience untouched.
© Marc Borggreve
“I find it inspiring that he found the strength to compose such complex music. Almost as if to show: I am and I remain human, look what I am capable of.”
Annelien Van Wauwe
Programme
Vsevolod Zaderatsky – Selection from 24 Preludes en fuga's
Lori Laitman – From I Never Saw Another Butterfly:
I. The Butterfly
III. Birdsong
Olivier Messiaen – Quatuor pour la fin du temps
Performers
Carousel Chamber Music Ensemble
Annelien Van Wauwe, clarinet
Soumm, violin
Louis Rodde, cello
Paloma Kouider, piano
Practical information
Date: Thursday 24 September 2026
Address: Biezekapelstraat 9, 9000 Ghent
Ticket prices
Rang 1 38 euro
Rang 2 18 euro
UiTPAS reduced price Tickets Gent
Timing
19:15 Doors open
20:00 Concert starts
21:15 Expected end
There is no intermission.
There are toilets available at the venue, including accessible facilities.
A cloakroom is also available.
Accessibility
The concert venue is wheelchair accessible. Assistance dogs are welcome. If desired, staff members are available to guide you to your seat.
If you require additional or specific assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us via toegankelijkheid@festival.be or +32 9 243 94 94 so we can provide the necessary support.
You can find more information about the accessibility of the concert hall on this page.
Getting there
The nearest bicycle parking facilities are located in Lange Kruisstraat and Maaseikstraat.
Travel by train: book your Bravo! Ticket at a discounted rate via the NMBS.
More information about access to the MIRY Concert Hall can be found here.
Plan your visit
More useful tips for planning your visit to Flanders Festival Ghent can be found here.