Péter Eötvös - Chinese Opera; Intervalles-Intérieurs (Ensemble Intercontemporain)

Information

Composer: Péter Eötvös

1. Chinese Opera: Prelude and Curtains - First Scene (for Peter Brook and Luc Bondy)
2. Chinese Opera: Comic 1 (for Bob Wilson)
3. Chinese Opera: Second Scene (for Klaus Michael Grüber)
4. Chinese Opera: Comic 2 (for Jacques Tati)
5. Chinese Opera: Third Scene - Curtains (for Patrice Chéreau)
6. Intervalles-Intérieurs

Ensemble Intercontemporain

Péter Eötvös, conductor

Date: 1990 / 2026

Label: Warner Classics

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Hungarian composer and conductor Péter Eötvös (1944–2024) was a pioneer in integrating electronic sound production with traditional orchestration. Early in his career, he collaborated with the influential WDR studio in Cologne—founded by electronic music trailblazer Werner Meyer-Eppler—and later directed the inaugural concert at Pierre Boulez’s IRCAM in Paris. His composition Intervalles-Intérieurs stands as an emblematic achievement from this era, seamlessly blending live acoustic instrumentation with a meticulously pre-recorded tape of synthetic sounds. Through this innovative approach, Eötvös established a captivating sonic dialogue that bridged the gap between acoustic performance and cutting-edge audio technology.

Founded in 1976 by Pierre Boulez, alongside Michel Guy and Nicholas Snowman, the Ensemble Intercontemporain is a premier collective dedicated to 20th- and 21st-century music. Comprising 31 permanent soloists under the artistic direction of Pierre Bleuse, the Paris-based group fosters innovation through composer collaborations, multidisciplinary projects, and synthetic sound research with IRCAM. The ensemble is globally renowned for its extensive music education programs and international tours, earning the prestigious Polar Music Prize in 2022. Financed by the French Ministry of Culture and the Paris City Council, they remain a vital force in contemporary musical performance and creation.