Berio - Complete Sequenzas, Complete Alternate Sequenzas & Works for Solo Instruments (2006) [4-Disc Box Set]

This is an extremely important recording in many ways. It is the most complete recording of the Sequenzas and nine connected pieces for solo instruments. The famous recording with soloists from Ensemble InterContemporain on DG, will remain important, but it was made in 1998, before some of the pieces on this set were even written. For example, we have here the first recordings of the legendary Sequenzas for cello. They are performed by Rohan de Saram, to whom they were dedicated. Berio conferred with de Saram as he wrote, sounding out his ideas with the cellist to see how far the technical process could meet the musical imagination. Furthermore, this set includes spoken performances of Sanguinetti’s poems before each piece as was Sequenza performance practice. The DG set has them printed in the booklet, but that’s not the same thing. Far from interrupting the music, the short aphorisms enhance overall atmosphere, for Sanguinetti and Berio were artistic twins, fertilising each others work. Sequenzas can, and are performed as stand-alones for obvious reasons, but on a recording when they are played together, the recitation acts as a connecting thread. All the performances here were recorded separately, as were those in the Ensemble InterContemporain set, and even in different countries. The concept fits in well with Berio’s panoramic, international world-view.

The Complete Sequenzas and Works for Solo Instruments*
All Sequenzas are preceeded by verses of Edoardo Sanguineti performed by Enzo Salomone

*A complete track listing and other pertinent information can be found here