Luciano Berio greatly enriched the repertoire for solo instruments and voice with his series of Sequenzas and works such as Psy, Gesti, Rounds and Fa-Si. Written between 1958 and 2002 and spanning almost five decades of Berio’s creative career, these solo compositions reflect some of his most crucial aesthetic ideas and compositional techniques.

The first complete recording of the Sequenzas: this set includes the world premiere recording of Sequenza XIV for solo cello, written for ex-Arditti Quartet cellist Rohan de Saram, who performs the Sequenza here.

The first complete recording of the alternate Sequenzas: at the request of many soloists, Berio arranged several of the Sequenzas for alternate instrumentation. This set compiles all of Berio’s alternate Sequenzas for the first time, also with some first recordings.

Plus all of Berio’s works for solo instruments: also collected together for the first time, Berio’s solo works and personal arrangements (with the exception of those for solo piano, which would be a full CD in itself) are included.

Berio was good friends with the Italian author Edoardo Sanguineti, who began writing the verses for individual Sequenzas in 1994. In performance, each verse can be recited before its respective Sequenza. All of the Sanguineti verses are presented here before each Sequenza, as performed by the distinguished Italian actor Enzo Salomone.

An international all-star cast of performers: Mode had the good fortune to begin this set with the help of Mr. Berio, who suggested some of the performers here. They include members of The Arditti Quartet and Ensemble Modern along with other distinguished soloists.

104-page book of extensive notes and biographical information packaged with 4 CDs in deluxe slipcase.

Disc 1: Sequenza I for flute (Paula Robison), II for harp (Susan Jolles), III for woman’s voice (Isabelle Ganz), IV for piano (Aki Takahashi), V for trombone (Stuart Dempster), VI for viola (Garth Knox), VII for oboe (Jacqueline Leclair)
Disc 2: Sequenza VIII for violin (Irvine Arditti), IXa for clarinet (Carol Robinson), IXb for alto saxophone (Kelland Thomas), X for trumpet in C and piano resonance (William Forman), XI for guitar (Seth Josel)
Disc 3: Sequenza XII for bassoon (Noriko Shimada), XIII for accordion (Stefan Hussong), XIVa for cello and VIb for cello (Rohan de Saram), VIIb for soprano saxophone (Ulrich Krieger), IXc for bass clarinet (Alain Billard)
Disc 4: Sequenza XIVb for contrabass (Stefano Scodanibbio), Rounds for harpsichord (Jane Chapman), Gesti for recorder (Lucia Mense), Fa-Si for organ (Gary Verkade), Les mots sont allés… for cello (Rohan de Saram), Lied and Comma for clarinet (Carol Robinson), Psy for contrabass (Michael Cameron), Chanson pour Pierre Boulez for cello (Rohan de Saram), Gute Nacht for trumpet (Brian McWhorter)