Jules Bass Picks Up Stage Rights to Rebecca Riskin's FOR THE END OF TIME

Writer/producer, Jules Bass has announced the acquisition of the rights to Rebecca Riskin's book, "For The End Of Time" -as the basis for a musical play of the same name. For The End Of Time tells the story of creation of Olivier Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time," as well as Messiaen's ill-fated marriage to the violinist, Clare Delbos; and his love affair with his brilliant protégé, the pianist, Yvonne Loriod.

In addition to excerpts of the celebrated piece of music, which has been called "the most ethereal music of the twentieth century, and (its creation ) has been called one of the true great stories of modern classic music."(Alex Ross, New Yorker), Bass and Grammy winning composer Art Labriola have created twelve original songs to accompany the story. Currently attached to the project are director Daniel Neiden and musical director Charles Czamecki.

Olivier Messiaen was a French soldier in a German POW Camp in WW 2. While imprisoned, he was forced to write a piece of music to be used to propagate the courtesy the German soldiers afforded their POWs. With subpar instruments, Messiaen created Quartet for the End of Time (new), a piece of music that has been heralded by critics and artists alike.

Inspired by Messiaen's synesthesia (seeing music as color), New York artist Zachery Smithey, created "Night Fantasies" (The Chamber Music Society Of Lincoln Center) which will accompany the original song "If I Were A Painter" which expresses Messiaen's musical "colors."

Bass' production of For The End Of Time is aiming for a 2014 presentation.