Matthias Pintscher, the author of Sur Départ, completes his artistic trajectory at the head of the Ensemble Intercontemporain with this evening dedicated to thresholds and farewells. From the transience of Anton Webern's works to the northern lights that inspire Kaija Saariaho's Lichtbogen, a ghostly quality is present throughout this program. A feeling of vanishing that Mark Andre seeks in the crevices of sound, breath and speech of the origins and theology for the creation of his Dasein. Quatre Chants pour franchir le seuil is Gérard Grisey's last completed work, addressing multiple endings: the death of the angel, the death of civilization, the death of the voice, the death of humanity. Inspired by ancient Egypt, the legend of Gilgamesh, and the Greek poetess Erinna, these four songs constitute the requiem of the composer, one of the greatest masters of thresholds in music.

Philharmonie de Paris, Ensemble intercontemporain, IRCAM-Centre Pompidou coproduction. Concert recorded by France Musique.