The Slovenian composer Vito Žuraj, born in 1979, is distinguished by powerful and meticulously worked out compositions, which often incorporate scenic elements and spatial sound concepts and are tailored to the musicians

This CD brings together three of his most important recent works, including i-Formation, a composition for two orchestras - designed precisely for the Cologne Philharmonic, whose 30th anniversary the two house orchestras (Gürzenich- Orchester Köln and WDR Sinfonieorchester) documented here premiered.

In Der Verwandler (SWR Sinfonieorchester and SWR Vokalensemble) Žuraj follows in the footsteps of the alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger, the inventor of porcelain, which also found its way into the piece in the form of specially made Meissen porcelain bells.

Finally, the eponymous Alavò was commissioned by the Karajan-Akademie der Berliner Philharmoniker. The occasion was the presentation of the Claudio Abbado Composition Prize, which Žuraj was awarded in 2017.