Strange Coupling

[mikehopf]

A new Decca release entitled " For the end of time" couples the eponymous Messaien quartet with two short  Gounod rarities for choir; soprano & orchestra ( here  piano):
L'Anniversaire des Martyrs and Le Chant Pour le Depart des Missionaires.

What a strange coupling! Can anyone tell me the relationship between these diverse works?

[Mark Thomas]

They're both by Frenchmen?

[Alan Howe]

The marketing department?

[adriano]

Well, Messaiens "Quatuor pour la fin du temps" is inspired by a vision from the Book of Revelation - in other words, it has with Gounod, a religious theme in common. But the idea of such a coupling is, still, weird!