Continuum XXI - Music of Extremes (2025) Hi-Res

Old and new sounds collide—and merge into a musical universe that is as radical as it is poetic. The album "Continuum XXI – Music of Extremes" unites Baroque masterpieces and contemporary compositions on period instruments, thus continuing an idea that the ensemble has pursued since its founding: understanding tradition in order to make the present audible.

At its heart lies the tension between opposites: anger and fragility, order and chaos, silence and eruptive sound. Telemann meets Ligeti, Monteverdi meets Lazkano, Rebel meets Berio—connected by a shared aesthetic stance. Mechanical soundscapes, microtonal nuances, physical noise, and expressive affects coalesce into a dialogue across centuries. Works such as Ligeti's Continuum and Alberto Arroyo's MELODIA MECHANICA II push the harpsichord to its physical limits, while Monteverdi's Entrata e ballo and Telemann's Trio Sonata illuminate Baroque expressiveness in a new light.

A special element of the album is the lyrical interventions by Friedrich Hausen, which lend an additional, poetic perspective to the musical extremes: texts that expand, reflect, or refract sound, opening up new avenues of interpretation for the listener.

Continuum XXI, with its unusual instrumentation of recorder, Baroque violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord, is among the most innovative European ensembles for historical instruments. International awards, world premieres by renowned composers, and interdisciplinary collaborations characterize its work.

The album “Continuum XXI – Music of Extremes” is an expression of this artistic vision: a bold statement for the sensuality of sound, the power of experimentation and the vibrancy of a music that simultaneously embodies past and future.