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Editorial Reviews

Oliver Knussen conducts the London Sinfonietta in two works by Charles Wuorinen, one a classic written in 1975, and the second written 25 years later and recorded here for the first time. Both works are vintage Wuorinen -- knotty, astringent, and uncompromisingly rigorous -- this is not music for sissies. "A Reliquary for Igor Stravinsky," based on fragments of music and tone rows Stravinsky was developing at the time of his death, is in six brief, contrasting movements. The strong character of each of its pithy movements, its rhythmic jaggedness, and its classically crisp orchestration recall Stravinsky's "Agon," but it's even spikier and more enigmatic than Stravinsky's ballet. "Cyclops 2000" is written in a single movement, and at almost 25 minutes, demands unusual concentration from the listener. It inhabits much the same sound world as "A Reliquary," but it lacks that work's focus and structural clarity.

The London Sinfonietta plays with immaculate precision and real spirit, giving music that could sound dryly academic the purposefulness and energy it needs to grip the listener. The sound is remarkably clean and full. The London Sinfonietta's releases generally contain about as much music as a single side of an LP, so the 40 minutes of music here is an improvement, but for full-priced discs, the label really should try to fill them out more generously. Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

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