This 1992 recording comes with a recommendation by the composer and offers a strikingly fine performance. The Accademia Bizantina is a collection of musicians including ten violin players, all of whom takes a turn performing first or second violin among the 33 brief movements. Berio's 14-year-old son, Daniel, is among the troupe, and the playing is of strikingly high quality all around. The diversity of players does not distract the listener from the material. Carlo Chiarappa is the ensemble's leader and performs on most of ...
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This 1992 recording comes with a recommendation by the composer and offers a strikingly fine performance. The Accademia Bizantina is a collection of musicians including ten violin players, all of whom takes a turn performing first or second violin among the 33 brief movements. Berio's 14-year-old son, Daniel, is among the troupe, and the playing is of strikingly high quality all around. The diversity of players does not distract the listener from the material. Carlo Chiarappa is the ensemble's leader and performs on most of the movements; his ability to blend with the other players and really play with them, rather than outshine them, sets the tone for the entire recording. A natural emotiveness comes from this Italian ensemble and is affectionately reverent. It is the opposite of pompous playing, especially personable and intimate, and the nature of the material encourages this; each movement is dedicated to an admired colleague or friend. Berio's music is usually attractive, but few recordings render...
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