Pierre Boulez: Le marteau sans maître; Dérive 1 & 2 (2005)

Of all Pierre Boulez's works, only Le Marteau sans maître (1953-1955) has achieved worldwide recognition as a modern masterpiece, partly because of the praise lavished on it by fellow composers and critics, but also because the public responded to the piece with uncommon openness to its rarefied expression and fascination with its fresh timbral palette. Yet the piece is notoriously difficult, and few performances have been satisfactorily recorded. This 2002 recording by the Ensemble InterContemporain may be considered an ... Read More

Of all Pierre Boulez's works, only Le Marteau sans maître (1953-1955) has achieved worldwide recognition as a modern masterpiece, partly because of the praise lavished on it by fellow composers and critics, but also because the public responded to the piece with uncommon openness to its rarefied expression and fascination with its fresh timbral palette. Yet the piece is notoriously difficult, and few performances have been satisfactorily recorded. This 2002 recording by the Ensemble InterContemporain may be considered an authoritative rendition, most obviously because of Boulez's supervision, but also because his musicians have plainly rehearsed it to a point of familiarity that admits expressive playing, beyond the mere task of getting pitches, rhythms, and dynamics right. Mezzo soprano Hilary Summers admirably delivers the angular gestures and melismas with restraint and controlled smoothness, and the ensemble is fully connected in its timing to her phrasing. Dérive 1 (1984) and Dérive 2 (1988-2002)... Read Less

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2005, Deutsche Grammophon UPC: 028947753278 CD See All from $7.94