Dive into the avant-garde world of György Ligeti with his captivating album "Le Grand Macabre," released on January 15, 1999, under Sony Classical. This extraordinary work is a testament to Ligeti's innovative compositional style, blending surrealism and dark humor into a rich, orchestral tapestry. The album spans an impressive 1 hour and 42 minutes, offering a comprehensive exploration of Ligeti's unique musical language.
"Le Grand Macabre" is a theatrical piece that defies conventional genres, showcasing Ligeti's mastery of avant-garde music. The album is divided into three main scenes, each filled with intricate musical dialogues and dramatic interludes. From the haunting "Dies Irae" to the playful "Shapely and attractive figure," Ligeti's compositions are both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
The album's standout tracks include the eerie "Woe! Ooh! For the day of wrath" and the rhythmic "Up! - Drink! - Up!", which highlight Ligeti's ability to create vivid musical narratives. The "Mirror Canon" and the "Finale. Passacaglia: 'Ah, it was good'" are particularly noteworthy, demonstrating Ligeti's skill in crafting complex, multi-layered compositions that are as engaging as they are challenging.
For fans of avant-garde music and those looking to explore the boundaries of classical composition, "Le Grand Macabre" is an essential addition to any music collection. György Ligeti's genius shines through in every note, making this album a timeless piece of musical artistry.
(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