I have a huge soft spot for all Messiaen's 'birdsong' compositions. But today his 1956 piece Oiseaux Exotiques shot decisively into first place on my list of stuff by Messiaen to play when in a bit of a bad mood. This was on account of a brilliant performance by ensemble oktopus. I've never heard of the ensemble before, but now I have I really need to find out more about them. I suppose the fact the players look so young added to the charm of the music. (By the by, I might be the only listener on the planet who finds the Maestro in this mode charming, but I do so that's it really. I actually started chuckling at one goofy moment in the first extended piano break. And chuckled again when the phrase that set me off was repeated a few bars later.)
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