His concert music includes a large series of instrument or vocal solo pieces (among them is his masterpiece Récitations, 1978), introducing theatrical elements here and there, sometimes purely gestural. His chamber music, either orchestral, vocal, or instrumental, is rich of many pieces composed for a wide variety of performing ensembles. His opera works, a third domain of activity, may be considered a synthesis of his musical theater and concert music; here, the text is the unifying and decisive element, and the singing voice is the main vector of expression. (Photo: Xavier Lambours)