SACDs - Keuris

With this third release in the Horizon series, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra once again underlines the importance it attaches in its concert programming to performances of contemporary music. The compositions featured on this CD represent a selection of recordings of contemporary works which the orchestra premiered in its 2008–9 season (some of which were commissioned by the orchestra) or of which few or no quality recordings are available. Two Dutch composers of the latest generation (Nas and van der Aa) are brought together here with two members of the older guard (Ketting and Keuris). Sofia Gubaidulina, for her part, represents the international contingent on this CD. In its performance of these works, the orchestra was led by conductors Ed Spanjaard, Markus Stenz and David Robertson. The CD also features soloist mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn, to whom van der Aa dedicated his song cycle.

String Quartets by two important musical figures of the late 20th century are here given outstanding interpretations by the Lagos Ensemble.

The two composers featured on this new hybrid SACD, Mauricio Kagel (1931–2008), and Tristan Keuris (1946–1996), both wrote highly varied works of particularly high quality. In their string quartets they use extremes of rhythm, timbre and register, with complete control of emotional and technical elements. Despite these modernist techniques, the music is often tonal and approachable.

Mauricio Kagel was brought up in Argentina, but became a major influence on 20th century music in America and Europe as a composer and teacher. The Dutch composer Tristan Keuris was also a significant musical figure on both sides of the Atlantic, teaching masterclasses, giving lectures, and writing many successful works on commission. An extension of the internationally renowned Lagos Quartet, the Lagos Ensemble performs and records a wide range of chamber music, but is especially acclaimed for its performance of contemporary works.