Xenakis: Orchestral Works
Arturo Tamayo
Their physical impact remains undimmed, with the former’s crackling percussive continuum finding contrast in the latter’s onslaught of drums in music whose methodical precision is outweighed...
Xenakis: Orchestral Works
Arturo Tamayo
Purchase product
Their physical impact remains undimmed, with the former’s crackling percussive continuum finding contrast in the latter’s onslaught of drums in music whose methodical precision is outweighed...
About
The orchestral works on this recording include two of Xenakis’ adventurous spatialized works along with Metastaseis, the work with which he emerged onto the international avant-garde scene. Metastaseis A is the original version, which is better known by its revision, Metastaseis B. The revision was the result of conductor Hermann Scherchen, who was critical of the size of the score and of elements of its instrumentation. He agreed to perform it if certain revisions were made. Ultimately, the première of the revised version, Metastaseis B, would be conducted by Hans Rosbaud at Donaueschingen in 1955, where it created a sensation. The public would have to wait until after the composer’s death before hearing the original version of Metastaseis A, which took place in 2008 in Torino under the direction of Arturo Tamayo, who conducts the work in this recording, its first commercial release. Xenakis explained that the sound world of Metastaseis was inspired by his experiences as a member of the student Resistance during the Nazi occupation of Greece.
Contents and tracklist
- Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI di Torino
- Arturo Tamayo
- Hague Residentie Orchestra
- Arturo Tamayo
- Hague Residentie Orchestra
- Arturo Tamayo
Awards and reviews
March 2018
Their physical impact remains undimmed, with the former’s crackling percussive continuum finding contrast in the latter’s onslaught of drums in music whose methodical precision is outweighed by its ritualistic savagery. Such is the impression conveyed by these performances, in which only a slightly confined balance can be faulted.