Beautiful boxet with 5 CDs "It would be an understatement to say that Iannis Xenakis, who passed away nearly ten years ago, marked the whole second half of the 20th century. Whether or not assisted by computer, he built vast musical architectures, which diverge resolutely from what was being done at the time and is still being done: another world of sounds, combined according to a different, but never gratuitous, approach resulting in something magical. The listener is surrounded by sound, immersed and taken into a universe unlike any other. Here, with this collection of five discs representing the major part of his output in this sphere, is Xenakis, master of the symphony orchestra. Some works are essential scores of the orchestral repertoire, such as Jonchaies, Lichens, Aïs and Synaphaï. This is a perfect and, in fact, unique kaleidoscope in the record catalogue, of what will have been Xenakis' inestimable contribution to orchestral music in the latter half of the 20th century. Arturo Tamayo and the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra are past masters in these challenges and, on several occasions, have given 'all-Xenakis' concerts, in particular at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.