The New Yorker: An intelligent book.


The Independent: Even those inclined to question this composer’s musicality are likely to be caught up in this account of his participation in the post-war Greek Resistance, his architectural work with Le Corbusier and his struggles to gain a musical technique and hearing. With its many documents and diagrams, this is a revealing contribution to the history of the post-war avant-garde.


Perspectives of New Music: How refreshing, exciting and how rare to find a biographical study that captures the essence of its subject / as if Nouritza Matossian took the cue for her writing style from the composer himself. It presents a penetrating and sensitive examination of one of the most fascinating, creative and controversial figures in music today.

Not a mere chronicle of events in one man’s life, the author has carefully and judiciously selected major events in Xenakis’s life, discussed them within the context of the evolution of his creative technique and unique style, and produced an eminently readable, insightful, informative, and enjoyable document.

Xenakis is a work that has a truly wide range of appeal and would be an asset to any library’s collection on contemporary music.


Le Nouvel Observateur: Very rich in powerful emotions.


Le Monde: A biography accessible to everyone. It’s no small achievement to say that after reading this book no one will ever be able to say again that Xenakis is a cerebral, inhuman artist. The very first account of the composer’s youth, experiences in architecture, early musical career are thoroughly treated. In addition a large number of Xenakis’ compositional techniques are explained in such as way as to make this book an excellent introduction to a universe which suddenly becomes more friendly than it ever seemed before.


Music and Musicians: Nouritza Matossian’s account of the life and music of Xenakis is elegantly written from close personal knowledge and is an ideal introduction the restless innovations of this brave and isolated pioneer, who emerges as an original many-sided genius.


Harmonie: Not content with analysing in detail certain capital works, she also examines in depth his philosophical and mathematical thinking, his work in architecture and its connections with music. The biography and portrait of the man are of priceless importance. It must be said without hesitation that we have here a book bursting with information – warm, alive and thrilling.


Journal de Génève:  Nouritza Matossian has published a study which she only completed after taming the savage inventor of stochastic music. With exceptional craft she integrates her materials into an intelligent analytic biography.

At times it reads like a novel!