A Ballet Without Dancers: Les Noces began its life as a ballet—and though this performance is not staged, the music itself is so rhythmically driven and theatrically vivid that it almost moves on its own. The score tells the story through sheer sound, with voices and percussion acting like dancers in their own right.

Striking, Unusual Forces: With four pianists, multiple percussionists, and a chorus constantly in motion, Les Noces pushes the boundaries of what a choral work can be. Its sound world is bracing and electric, unlike anything else in the repertoire.

Folk Texts, Modern Voice: Though based on traditional Russian wedding poetry, the piece feels modern and urgent—highlighting the collective nature of marriage, the pressures of tradition, and the ecstatic chaos of communal life. It’s a ritual as imagined by one of the 20th century’s most daring musical minds.