Jan Michiels - Geert De Bièvre

The final concert of the day brings together three radical iconoclasts: the runaway movements of Conlon Nancarrow (1912-1997), the explosiveness of Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001) and the overwhelming power of Pierre Boulez. Nancarrow was an eccentric and cult figure who lived in Mexico and is best known for his Studies for Player Piano. His work is in sharp contrast to that of his European counterparts in this late-evening concert. Boulez' third piano sonata was written for Darmstadt 1957 and is one of his absolute masterpieces. Nomos Alpha is a rarely performed piece for solo cello, not only because it is so difficult, but also because the micro-structures incorporated into it make a highly complex impression. The 1992 duet for cello and piano, Paille in the Wind, is real Xenakis: in just four minutes, the listener is immersed in the composer's world.