At Olivier Latry's all-Messiaen recital at Alice Tully Hall the other night (Steve Smith was there), the encore was "Prière après la communion," from the composer's great final organ cycle, Livre du Saint Sacrament. Latry's prior Messiaen recordings, brilliant but a little too efficient, had not been high on my list — for the Livre, I've long preferred Almut Rössler, on Motette — but Latry's playing on this occasion was beautifully patient and thoughtful. If you want a more outré visualization of the piece, try this video by Darren Motise.
