Stravinsky's last ballet composition “Agon. Ballet for Twelve Dancers” was written over a period of three years (1954–1957). During that time, he used various composition methods: As a result, modal and serial techniques are interwoven in a unique way.
Stravinsky evidently based the construction of his work on a French dance textbook from the mid-17th century. In addition, according to its formal structure, “Agon” is a suite which, in its outward semblance, also follows an example from the 17th century. The choreographic content of the piece is both timeless and lacking in substance: For Stravinsky composed his work without any thought of décor or scenery. No specific musical or choreographic intention was to be pursued; the visual performance was to be left entirely to the interpretation of the choreographer.
With “studio reihe neuer musik”, WERGO created a trademark of advanced contemporary music in the Sixties of the past century already. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, WERGO now releases these highlights of 20th-century music history in an excellent sound quality on CD for the first time.
The recordings were originally published on LP in 1964 (WER50002) Remastered in DSD in 2012.
