Gérard Grisey - Quatre chants pour franchir le seuil

There seems to have been a good reaction, in number of downloads at least, to Grisey's Les Espaces Acoustiques posted here a few weeks ago, and I hope that posting music like this here is not only of interest to regular visitors, but also attracts others who may become equally interested in some of the other music posted here.

So here is Gérard Grisey's most famous piece, Quatre chants pour franchir le seuil (1997-8), a meditation through four songs - from Christian, Egyptian, Greek and Mesopotamian cultures - on the passing from life to death. I don't hear any morbidity here, or sentimentality, instead a beautiful, rarefied contemplation, on the cusp of Liebestod.

I recorded this from France Musique earlier this year, and it is a remarkably assured performance. Don't hesitate if you get the chance to see this in concert!

Gérard Grisey


Quatre chants pour franchir le seuil, pour soprano et grand ensemble

Barbara Hannigan : soprano 



Ensemble Intercontemporain


Conductor : Susanna Mälkki

2008 Agora Festival, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris

7th June, 2008