Performers: Choeur du Départment musical de l'Université de Strasbourg, Maïtrise de Colmar, Ensemble Vocal d'Anjou, Ensemble de Basse-Normandie, Spiros Sakkas (baritone solo), Sylvio Gualda (percussion solo), Robert Weddle (vocal direction), Dominique Debart (musical direction)
Playing time: 49'
Recording date: October 1987 (Strasbourg, live)
Although designed as one piece, this program breaks down fairly clearly into track #2 (for soloists) and the rest of the cycle. In fact, the wonderful Kassandra scene was added at a later date (1987). In fact, the remaining 4 tracks form a "suite" which Xenakis extracted from a much longer stage production. These were previously recorded, without the Kassandra scene, on Erato LP.
The choral style, motivated by that of ancient Greek drama, but with Xenakis' own flair, is appealing here. It has a compelling quality to it, and is much less difficult than much of Xenakis' music. The combined ensembles, many of them students, do a workman's job here, if not a sparkling one.
A program devoted to more of Xenakis' choral music:
Among Xenakis' pieces of extended duration for live acoustic instruments, another to receive good attention on recording is the percussion cycle Pléïades. Two quality recordings:
To purchasing information for this disc
To Xenakis list.
T. M. McComb