Luciano Berio: Folk Songs (Cathy Berberian, Juilliard Ensemble, RCA 1972)
Album
Instrumentation: mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, viola, cello, harp and percussion. Berio orchestrated eleven traditional songs from America, Armenia, France, Sicily, Azerbaijan and Italy into an astonishing acoustic tapestry. Composed for his ex-wife Cathy Berberian, her extraordinary vocal chameleon qualities are cushioned by exotic, kaleidoscopic accompaniments that elevate folklore into visionary modern chamber art.