Iannis Xenakis

Charisma X follows the life of Iannis Xenakis from childhood through his final composition, Omega. Musicologist Makis Solomos guides us through Xenakis’ key periods and accomplishments interspersed with musical performances and comments from those who knew or worked with Xenakis, giving an overview of his personal life and careers in music and architecture.

Xenakis appears in historical footage talking about his multimedia electronic work La Légende d’Eer, with film of the performance and the Diatope in front of the Pompidou Centre; demonstrating the UPIC, the computer which he designed that allows music to be drawn on a computer screen; and speaking about his opera Oresteia and various Greek legends which influenced his work.

It explores the relationship between his music and architecture, including working for Le Corbusier.

Charisma X explores his architectural achievements of the Philips Pavilion at Expo 58, the convent of La Tourette, his home in Corsica, and the houses he designed for his daughter Makhi and composer Mache are shown.

Greece, 2008. A film directed by Efi Xirou, produced by Gina Petropoulou with Vox-documentaries, Greek Film Centre, ERT.
Composers: George Aperghis, François-Bernard Mâche, Gerard Pape, Curtis Roads, George Koumentakis
Featuring: Françoise Xenakis (author and Xenakis’ wife), Makis Solomos, Sharon Kanach, Makhi Xenakis, Roviros Manthoulis

Live musical excerpts performed by Sylvio Gualda, percussion (Psappha); Elisabeth Chojnacka, harpsichord (Naama); Benny Sluchin, trombone (Keren); Frances-Marie Uitti, cello (Charisma); Lori Freedman, clarinet (Charisma); Christophe Roy, cello (Nomos Alpha); Spiros Sakkas, voice (Oresteia)