Ars Musica 2007 Brussels (4)  Maresz, Cento, Mantovani : Ictus/Ircam; Georges-Elie Octors (conductor) Kaaitheater, Brussels 23.03.2007 (HC)

Yan Maresz : Sul Segno

Raphaël Cendo : Scratch Data

Bruno Mantovani : Streets

Bruno Mantovani : Eclair de lune

This concert was entirely devoted to three young French composers : Bruno Mantovani (born 1974), Raphaël Cendo (born 1975) and Yan Maresz (born 1966). Both Mantovani and Maresz have already achieved quite a reputation in France and abroad while on the other hand, I must confess that Cendo is a name new to me. All the works  but one, were for live instruments and electronics which used some sophisticated IRCAM technology, often with really gripping results. Mantovani’s Streets for small ensemble was the only work in this programme that was scored for instruments only.

Yan Maresz’s Sul Segno (2004) is scored for a rather unusual instrumental ensemble consisting of harp, cymbalon, guitar, double bass and live electronics. The material for this sizeable work is drawn from a choreographic work composed at IRCAM in Paris. The live electronics play a major role in modifying live sounds produced by the instruments in real time and in producing a complex, but highly imaginative and often very beautiful sound web. The overall impact is quite effective and often surprising, but what clearly comes through is the composer’s poetic vision. Sounds are never there for their own sake; and, while listening to this gripping work, one easily forgets all the technology, software and whatever else only to be immersed in a beautiful sound world. This splendid work was the highlight of this concert at least as far as I am concerned; but the audience obviously enjoyed it enormously. I would certainly like to hear it again; and might do so some day since it is available on disc (Accord/Universal).

Raphaël Cendo’s Scratch Data (2003) is a brilliant showcase for solo percussionist and electronics. It was really great fun to watch and to listen to as well. Technically quite demanding, the music, however, does not take itself all-too-seriously. Quite entertaining indeed.

The second half of this concert was devoted to two recent works by Bruno Mantovani, one of the busiest composers of his generation. Though in his early thirties, Mantovani has a considerable output to his credit in almost every genre. He has recently completed an opera L’Autre côté first performed during the 2006 Musica festival in Strasbourg. Two of his fairly recent works were featured here : Streets (2006) for a small mixed ensemble of ten players and Eclair de lune (2006) for nine instruments split into three small groups, three side drums and electronics. Streets is a short, vivid work evoking the crowded streets of New York or of any other large city, although the music is in no way programmatic. As the composer explained in the pre-concert talk, the music rather tends to illustrate a paradox, i.e. excessive movement may sometimes seem static. Similarly, some isolated figure may emerge out of the crowd as if spotlighted.

A lively work that never outstays its welcome. Eclair de lune was jointly commissioned by IRCAM and Ictus Ensemble. The instruments are laid-out in three small groups of three seated around the conductor : viola, clarinet and horn on the left, bassoon, cello and piano in front and double bass, trumpet and trombone on the right. Moreover, each group has a percussionist playing side drum only. On the whole, this is a much more ambitious work than Streets, but I found it marginally less interesting and probably a bit too long for its own good. However, the sound impact of the work cannot be denied. Again, live electronics considerably add to the global sound picture; but I eventually found the whole less successful than Maresz’s work.

 

 

Hubert Culot