Performers: Irvine Arditti (violin), David Alberman (violin), Garth Knox (viola), Rohan de Saram (cello), Claude Helffer (piano)
Playing time: 152'
Recording dates: February, March, June, December 1991 (Köln, Paris)
Arditti Quartet Edition 13-14
Despite many recent issues, often of fine quality, this continues to be the most compelling Xenakis recording for me. The appeal of the string quartet medium in twentieth century music, as well as that of some of the other forms here, is high. Aside from variety of sonority, and musique concrete technique (and to some extent even then), this survey captures much of Xenakis' musical style from various points in his career. Tetras, in particular, is a critical work in his oeuvre.
The performance itself is very accurate, almost too conservatively so, but painstakingly precise. As the music is recorded more often, I can certainly imagine that a more personal touch could yield some improved interpretations. The piano music is drawing a fair amount of attention, and the solo medium offers greater opportunity for refinement. The quartets are relatively unrecorded, so this set remains central on that point.
An earlier classic for the piano music:
A mixed recital featuring Arditti & Helffer:
Another Xenakis item on Montaigne:
To purchasing information for this disc
To Xenakis list.
T. M. McComb