Simon Preston’s recordings of Messiaen for Argo and Decca, newly remastered and compiled for the first time in a 2-CD release.

Preston championed Messiaen’s organ works, both in recital and on disc, at a time when they were relatively unknown in England. Incredibly, he made his first Messiaen recording - of L’Ascension - at only a week’s notice, in August 1962.

This anthology is one of five newly remastered sets canvasing Simon Preston’s complete solo organ recordings for Argo. They also include ‘Twentieth-Century Organ Music’ (ELQ4824925), ‘Simon Preston at Westminster Abbey’ (ELQ4824933), Romantic organ music (ELQ4824941) by Brahms, Liszt and Reger, and an organ spectacular featuring the Variations on America (ELQ4828101) of Charles Ives.

“La Nativité is a work for virtuosos. In the case of the present recording we have a superlative performance by the English organist Simon Preston, playing on the great organ of Westminster Abbey. The recording deserves some kind of award; it is magnificent in all respects.” - The Musical Quarterly, April 1967

“The great strength of Simon Preston’s performance lies in his control of the slow movements ... With the additional benefits of good recording quality and a sensitive performance of the early Le Banquet celeste (1928) it is a record which I would not hesitate to recommend.” - Musical Times, February 1971 (Les Corps glorieux)