Modern Masterworks: John Cage

Few figures of 20th-century music were as innovative, iconoclastic and controversial as John Cage, a composer who asked fundamental about the nature of music and art. When he died in 1992, a festival of his music scheduled in Frankfurt took on the character of a celebration of his life and art. The performances featured here are drawn from that festival, with David Tudor – Cage’s friend and musical partner for over 40 years – performing two of the composer’s major concert works, accompanied by Ensemble Modern and conductor Ingo Metzmacher. The performances are preceded by an introduction to Cage and his work by Michael Nupen.

Soloists: 

David Tudor (Piano), Hermann Kretzschmar (Piano), Kerry Shale (Narrator)

Ensemble: 

Ensemble Modern

Conductor: 

Ingo Metzmacher