Orchestral Works

Arturo Tamayo's recordings of the works of Iannis Xenakis on the Timpani label are among the finest available, for they are finely interpreted, expertly performed, and brilliantly recorded. Xenakis' music is always different from piece to piece, because the composer never wanted to repeat himself, and his works always present unique challenges, depending on the nature of his evolving techniques and changing expressions. Whether it is in the stark text and extreme vocalizations of Ais (1980), or the densely dissonant aggregations of Tracees (1987), Empreintes (1975), Noomena (1974), and Roai (1991), Tamayo keeps the energy levels high and shapes the sound to have a sharp edge and forceful impact. The committed performances of baritone Spyros Sakkas and percussionist Beatrice Daudin make Ais a challenging opener, while the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra gives a full sound and diverse timbres to the four purely orchestral works. The sound quality is slightly variable, but overall the dynamic range is wide and the depth of the orchestral mass translates well in the stereo mix. Adventurous listeners with a taste for the avant-garde will find a great deal to enjoy in this first volume, but they should also explore the four excellent CDs that followed it in the series.