Ligeti: Kammerkonzert & Other Works

by Les Siecles, Francois-Xavier Roth

Overview

This group of three works by Gyoergy Ligeti was recorded by Les Siecles in 2016 and was reissued in 2023. Perhaps it suffered on first release because, although Les Siecles are known for their historically oriented recordings of early 20th century repertory, the instruments used here are apparently modern ones; the recording might not have been seen as playing to the performers' strengths. As it happens, these are wonderful performances of Ligeti, and this is definitely a case of better late than never. In the two small-ensemble wind works, the players beautifully sculpt the shifting textures that are at the heart of Ligeti's music. Especially interesting are the somewhat less familiar Six Bagatelles for wind quintet that open the program. These have a neoclassic surface but a restricted harmonic vocabulary that throws the listener's attention onto the textures and timbres. The work was first performed in 1956 (the invading Soviets suppressed the dissonant finale), and it is right on the edge of Ligeti's mature style. Also somewhat transitional are the Ten Pieces for wind quintet at the end, little pieces where the structural language of the larger Kammerkonzert are worked out. The performances are very sharp, and the album shows signs of having been a labor of love. Moreover, with the program showing stylistic developments over the first part of Ligeti's career, it could also serve ideally as an introduction to this composer. The live engineering from a couple of different venues is top-notch. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	07/07/2023
Label:	Harmonia Mundi
UPC:	3149020947135
Rank:	61180

Tracks

1. Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet~I. Allegro con spirito
2. Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet~II. Rubato. Lamentoso
3. Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet~III. Allegro grazioso
4. Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet~IV. Presto ruvido
5. Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet~V. (Béla Bartók in memoriam) - Adagio. Mesto
6. Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet~VI. Molto vivace. Capriccioso
7. Kammerkonzert~I. Corrente (Fließend)
8. Kammerkonzert~II. Calmo sostenuto
9. Kammerkonzert~III. Movimento preciso e meccanico
10. Kammerkonzert~IV. Presto
11. Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet~I. Molto sostenuto e calmo
12. Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet~II. Prestissimo minaccioso e burlesco
13. Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet~III. Lento
14. Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet~IV. Prestissimo leggiero e virtuoso
15. Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet~V. Presto staccatissimo e leggiero
16. Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet~VI. Lo stesso. Presto staccatissimo e leggiero
17. Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet~VII. Vivo, energico
18. Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet~VIII. Allegro con delicatezza
19. Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet~IX. Sostenuto, stridente
20. Ten Pieces for Wind Quintet~X. Presto bizzarro

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Les Siecles   Primary Artist,Ensemble
Francois-Xavier Roth   Primary Artist,Conductor

Technical Credits

Jiri Heger   Engineer,Editing,Mixing,Producer
Charles Johnston   Liner Note Translation
Holger Talinski   Photography
Dennis Collins   Liner Note Translation
Niklaus Stauss   Photography
Anne do Paco   Liner Notes
Gyoergy Ligeti   Composer