Composed for saxophone quartet in 2005, at the very beginning of his stay in France, this piece is the first Opus in Juan Arroyo’s catalogue. Based on a writing of interwined solos, the exploration and integration of various extended techniques in his style are linked to his stay in Bordeaux, the city where the European Saxophone Centre is based, and to a decisive meeting with the saxophonist Marie-Bernadette Charrier, professor of the saxophone class at the Conservatoire de Bordeaux and artistic director of the Proxima Centauri ensemble. The world premiere of Rencontres took place in June 2005 by Quatuor 2.5, at the Conservatoire de Bordeaux, France.