The Language that All Things Speak
for symphony orchestra
fl. I, II / ob. I, II / cl. I, II / bsn. I, II / hn. I, II, III, IV / tpt. I, II, III / tbn. I, II, b.tbn. / tb. / timp. / perc. I, II, III, IV / hp. / Vln. I (12) / Vln. II (10) / Viola (8) / Cello (8) / Double bass (6)
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Duration of 15 minutes - Composed in 2025
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Commissioned by Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Juilliard School and Villa Albertine as the laureate composer of the 2025 Pisar Prize
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14/11/25
Les Siècles
Conducted by Antonello Manacorda
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
Paris, France
I love the idea that sounds can sometimes be suspected of being hallucinations, as they leave no trace. From this perspective, the piece starts by depicting a hyper-realistic soundscape of a forest that seems to enter into a dialogue with the listener, where elements such as birdsong, the woods, the wind, crickets, and even a mosquito suggest the presence of a hidden language or system of communication, allowing other secret voices to emerge from within the orchestra.
This work explores sound not only as a physical phenomenon but also as an auditory illusion, where musical gestures can give the impression of instruments becoming ‘alive’. The piece experiments with perception and misperception—hearing sounds without immediately identifying their source, and creating a subtle sense of strangeness.