Georges Aperghis
GEORGES APERGHIS (1945, Athens, Greece) came to France in 1963 and worked with mavericks Pierre Schaeffer, Pierre Henry and Iannis Xenakis (which inspired some of Aperghisís first works). By the early 1970s he had forged his own style, establishing himself as an original creator of works that meld music and theatre. He completed the synthesis of his work in the form of opera: here the text is the unifying and determining element, the voice is the principal means of expression. His exploration of the stage began in 1971, when he composed La Tragique histoire du nécromancien Hieronimo et de son miroir, which has since featured him regularly in its programming. He remains outside the mainstream of contemporary music. It is not without irony that Machinations (2000), Aperghis’ first appearance at IRCAM, a long-overdue invitation reflecting begrudged acknowledgment from that august body, utilizes video technology over any of IRCAM’s prized musical and technological innovations. Two of his latest works, composed in 2000, have achieved wide success throughout Europe : Die Hamletmaschine-Oratorio, based on a Heiner Müller text, and the show Machinations, a commission by Ircam, which was awarded a Grand Prix by the French Composers’ Society. He was awarded the Grand Prix National de la Musique in 1998.
Works (selection): Antistixis for three string quartets (1967), Anakroussis for seven instruments (1967), Bis for two orchestras (1968), La tragique histoire du nécromancien Hieronimo et de son miroir for two women's voices, speaking and singing, lute and cello (1971), La tragique histoire... (1971), Vesper (1972), Die Wände haben Ohren for large orchestra (1972), Pandaemonium, opera (1973), Jacques le fataliste, opera, (1974), Histoire de loups, opera (1976), Je vous dis que je suis mort, opera (1978), Liebestod, opera (1981), L'Echarpe rouge, opera (1984), Conversations (1985), Enumerations (1988), Jojo (1990), H, litanie musicale et égalitaire (1992), Die Hamletmaschine, oratorio (1999 - 2000)