Giya Kancheli, one of Georgia's most important composers, became increasingly renowned following the onset of glasnost in the Soviet Union, when his works—not least his seven symphonies—garnered international attention. Around the year 2000, Kancheli turned away from the lavishness of these pieces and embraced a more restrained, introspective style, illustrated by the three works on this album. Elements of folk and traditional music can be discerned in the abstract Ex contrario, while Middelheim captivates with its overlapping sequence of episodes. Tsutisopeli was Kancheli's final composition.