Varèse does jazz

Last night at Tully Hall, Lincoln Center Festival's two-part Varèse festival opened with a slew of sensationally precise performances by the International Contemporary Ensemble, So Percussion, and Musica Sacra, all under the direction of Steven Schick. I had the score of Déserts with me, and was astounded by the degree to which every detail came to life. (Tully's super-bright acoustics certainly helped.) Claire Chase, ICE's director and the soloist in Density 21.5, got a hero's welcome...