Igor Markevitch is a vital composer in our understanding of the evolution of style and musical language in the twentieth century. La Taille de l’Homme of which only Part I was completed was originally intended as a ‘concert’ for soprano and ensemble designed to last an entire evening. The picture painted in this work is one of the utter insignificance of the individual within an unfeeling universe, while the musical language is more astringent than in some of his earlier works. For this recording, the conductor has chosen to expand the string forces to those of a small chamber orchestra, in order to emphasize the more luxuriant depiction of nature in the Prélude and the gorgeously pastoral second movement of the Sonate.