Some debuts are so electrifying they instantly get a sequel. When Explore Ensemble featured as part of hcmf// shorts in 2016, they announced themselves, delivering a stunning rendition of Gérard Grisey’s Talea that gave high drama to the composer’s contrast of tension and release. They were so good they were invited back to the festival for a second consecutive year, hcmf// committing to commissioning a new composition specifically for the group.
Amongst works by legendary composers Enno Poppe and Fausto Romitelli, their 2017 concert at hcmf// included the new work Tracer la lune d’un doigt, written for them by Patricia Alessandrini. Written for a sextet of players alongside a kit of electronics, the piece’s sonic breadth spoke to the ensemble’s ability to navigate steadily through the unknown. Once a new ensemble of young players, they’ve quickly developed into masters of their craft, taking the most radical music and making a home for it.