Luciano Berio: Sinfonia / Eindrüke

Berio was a characteristic 20th-century composer in that he did not repeat himself; each piece called for new sounds and embodied his developing aesthetic. Sinfonia (1968), an extraordinary composition written for eight singers (the Swingle Singers) and orchestra, is a vast collage of words and sounds, reflecting the complexity and disorder of modern life. Parts of it sound as though several radio programs were being played simultaneously. Underlying everything, a distorted but recognizable performance of the third movement of Gustav Mahler's Second Symphony can be heard. In addition, there are words from a Samuel Beckett play, student slogans from contemporary confrontations, and fleeting references to a score of other composers ranging from J. S. Bach to Stockhausen. The piece is a Joycean bringing-together of everything in a time-destroying present. In spite of its unconventionality and complexity, the first performances were highly successful.

Luciano Berio (1925-2003)
Sinfonia / Eindrüke (1992)
Régis Pasquier, violin
New Swingle Singers
Orchestre National de France
Pierre Boulez

Erato 88151

Sinfonia
for eight voices and orestra
1. Sinfonia for Eight Voices and Orchestra: I -
2. Sinfonia for Eight Voices and Orchestra: II - O King
3. Sinfonia for Eight Voices and Orchestra: III - In ruhig fliessender Bewegung
4. Sinfonia for Eight Voices and Orchestra: IV -
5. Sinfonia for Eight Voices and Orchestra: V -

Eindrüke
6. Eindruke