NDR Radiophilharmonie / Alexej Gerassimez / Tan Dun

Percussion instruments are currently very much in vogue, and no longer are we limited to the timpani, bongo and xylophone for percussive sounds and rhythms. From the washing drum to aluminium foil, anything goes these days as long as it makes a sound. When combined with the physical stage presence of the percussionists, every live concert becomes a stunning and memorable experience. Alexej Gerassimez is the new star of the percussion world – his level of concentration and his willingness to experiment make him the perfect soloist in Tan Dun’s thrilling dance-like concerto »The Tears of Nature«. Mussorgsky’s »Pictures at an Exhibition« might seem at first glance like a deliberate contrast piece, but it is actually a very fitting combination since both works are infused with a primordial creative force.