Frank Zappa - Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger (1984) [2012]

Official Release #39. Having recorded some works with a large orchestra in January 1983, in January 1984, Frank Zappa arranged for some of his chamber works to be performed by Pierre Boulez's Ensemble InterContemporain, a 16-piece group. "The Perfect Stranger," "Naval Aviation In Art?," and "Dupree's Paradise" were given this treatment, and the four remaining tracks are the product of Zappa's music synthesizer, the Synclavier. As usual, Zappa's "serious" works are rhythmically interesting and make for challenging listening.

This classically-oriented set combines music from FZ's Synclavier compositions plus music commissioned for, and performed by, The Ensemble Intercontemporain in Paris. Originally released by Angel/EMI in 1984, THE PERFECT STRANGER remained on the classical chart for almost a year and brought FZ his third Grammy nomination, for Best New Classical Composition (for the piece "The Perfect Stranger.")

Because of his irreverent and outspoken public persona, some mistakenly consider Frank Zappa to be simply a humorist with chops, playing ornately complex music for uber-nerds. This record helps to set the record straight: Zappa is one of the most important American composers of the second half of the twentieth century, who released more than fifty albums in his too-short life. Hearing his music played with full orchestration helps to make the case for the enduring power and quality of his compositions, both as pieces of music, and social commentary.


Tracks:

01 - The Perfect Stranger
02 - Naval Aviation In Art
03 - The Girl In The Magnesium Dress
04 - Dupree's Paradise
05 - Love Story
06 - Outside Now Again
07 - Jonestown

Personnel:

Ensemble InterContemporain conducted by/direction: Pierre Boulez (recorded January 10 & 11 1984 at IRCAM, Paris)
The Barking Pumpkin Digital Gratification Consort - realized by Frank Zappa on Synclavier