Circles was written for Berio's wife, the American mezzo-soprano Cathy Berberian. The work followed by two years the landmark composition Thema (Omaggio a Joyce) in which Berio deconstructed Berberian's voice through the use of innovative electronic manipulation. Throughout Circles Berio explores similar sound textures while limiting himself exclusively to acoustic means. The work was commissioned by the Fromm Foundation, with a dedication in the score to Mrs Olga Koussevitsky.

Librettist (Three poems by E. E. Cummings)
Date of composition 1960
Premiered 1960, August 1st in Tanglewood, TX, United States
First published Universal Edition
Dedicated to Written for Berio's wife the American mezzo-soprano Cathy Berberian.
Type Song(s)
Approx. duration 20 minutes
Spoken language English
Instruments Voice - Female ;
Harp
2x Percussion
Autotranslations beta Luciano Berio: Circles
Luciano Berio: Circles
Luciano Berio: Circles