Visions

Although the title of this album refers to its brilliant, dissonant centerpiece—Messiaen’s Visions de l’Amen—it also points toward the programming philosophy of this excellent two-piano collection: the Naughtons’ boldly imaginative vision in choosing such diverse works. There is a liturgical thread running through the three pieces on this record, to be sure. On the level of the music, however, each of these works represents a unique moment in the history of counterpoint and harmony, from the innovative polyphony of Bach to the post-minimal textures of Adams. The Bach is an especially interesting choice, cleansing the sonic palate between the two 20th-century monuments.