Dive into the avant-garde world of György Ligeti with his seminal opera "Le Grand Macabre," presented in a 1997 version on this captivating album. Released on Sony Classical in 1999, this recording offers a unique and farcical take on the end of the world, filled with eccentric characters and a rich, complex score that showcases Ligeti's distinctive compositional style.
"Le Grand Macabre" is Ligeti's only opera, composed between 1974 and 1977, and it stands as one of the most successful operas of the 20th century. The album spans 1 hour and 42 minutes, divided into four scenes and several preludes and interludes, each track offering a glimpse into the opera's surreal and humorous narrative. The opera's cast of strange and exotic characters brings a sense of whimsy and absurdity to the apocalyptic theme, making it a standout work in Ligeti's repertoire.
This album is a testament to Ligeti's creative freedom and his innovative approach to contemporary music. The opera's unique blend of humor, surrealism, and musical complexity makes it a compelling listen for fans of avant-garde and classical music alike. Whether you're a longtime admirer of Ligeti's work or a newcomer to his compositions, this recording of "Le Grand Macabre" is sure to captivate and inspire.
(P) 1999 Sony Music Entertainment
Tracks
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Car Horn PreludeGyörgy Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 1: "Dies Irae"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 1: "Away, you swag-pot!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 1:"Shut up!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 1: "Oh...! Amanda! Can do no more!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 1: "Ha-ha-ha-ha! Hey! Give me my requisites"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 1: "Melting snow is thy breast"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Second Car Horn PreludeGyörgy Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 2: "One! Two! Three! Five!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 2: "Shapely and attractive figure"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 2: "Venus! Venus!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 2: "Stop! - Sh!... Quiet, for heaven's sake!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 2: "Who's there? A Man? - A Man!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 2: Finale "Fire and death I bring"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: Doorbell PreludeGyörgy Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: "Arse licker, arse-kisser!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: "Posture exercises!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: "Tsk... - Pssst! Ha! Head of my Secret Service"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: "Ahh! ...Secret cypher!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: "Hurray, hurray! My wife is dead, hurray!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: Nekrotzars EntranceGyörgy Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: "Woe! Ooh! For the day of wrath"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: "There's no need to fear"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: "Up! - Drink! - Up!"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: Galimatias: "Hmm! It's delicious"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 3: "Where am I? What time is it?"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): InterludeGyörgy Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 4: "Ghost Astradamors, are you dead?"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 4: Mirror CanonGyörgy Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra
Le Grand Macabre (1997 Version): Scene 4: Finale. Passacaglia: "Ah, it was good"György Ligeti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Philharmonia Orchestra