Présence: Ballet Blanc En Cinq Scènes Pour Violon, Violoncelle Et Piano / Intercomunicazione Per Violoncello Et Pianoforte

Released by Deutsche Grammophon in 1968, this recording documents two significant chamber works by the German avant-garde composer Bernd Alois Zimmermann. Présence, composed in 1961, is a complex 'ballet blanc' that juxtaposes violin, cello, and piano in a theatrical, collage-like structure that challenges the listener to navigate a labyrinth of musical quotations. Intercomunicazione, finished in 1967, represents a more intimate dialogue between the cello and piano, reflecting Zimmermann's interest in the temporal relationships between performers.

The recording features a powerhouse trio of performers, including violinist Saschko Gawriloff, cellist Siegfried Palm, and pianist Aloys Kontarsky, all of whom were central figures in the development and performance of serial and post-serial music in mid-century Germany. The production stands as a seminal document of the Deutsche Grammophon avant-garde series, providing a high-fidelity realization of Zimmermann’s intricate sound world, which was often praised for its emotional intensity and structural intellectualism by contemporary critics and fellow composers.