Gyorgi Ligeti’s erudite eclecticism has long earned him the stature of iconoclast, original or maverick of contemporary music. He disliked isms in music, i.e. stylistic schools that were vectors of rigid dogma. He preferred to use everything that could expressively and satisfactorily nourish his discourse, be it strict avant-garde techniques, folklore or non-European popular and learned music. He might have resented it, but his vision has become the norm in these days of triumphant post-modernism (another ism, you see…).
This masterfully performed and recorded album bears witness to the richness and complexity of the Ligetian “language” from the very beginning of its existence. Like the rediscovery of the Concerto Românesc, an early work in the form of a tribute to the popular styles of his native Hungary. A distant cousin of Schnittke’s Suite in Old Style or Bartok’s folkloristic explorations.
But the real masterpieces here are the Violin and Piano Concertos. The Concerto for violin is in five movements and is a remarkable synthesis of the history of music. Strong symbols serve as anchor points to illustrate the musical periods evoked (e.g. the flute and ocarinas for the Baroque, cross-hatched rhythms for medieval hiccups, etc.). But Ligeti uses them with exhilarating creative ferocity. The destabilising contrast between the microtonal chords of the ocarinas/flute and the agitated accents of the strings is unforgettable. Faust is imperial in her mastery of the discourse, the technical pitfalls and the expressivity necessary for the radiance of this brilliant monument to modern music. And what can we say about François-Xavier Roth’s orchestra? A marvel of sound construction and infinitesimal nuances of colour and dynamics.
In the Piano Concerto, the rustic inflections come pleasantly to life under the fingers of Jean-Frédéric Neuburger. Roth adds his dose of sonic spice, very well executed by Les Siècles in a crystal-clear recording. A little marvel of textural sparkle and quiver in every section.
An excellent introductory album to Ligeti’s universe, with first-rate performers.
