Kurtag: Complete Works for Ensemble and Choir (3CD)
Natalia Zagorinskaja Soprano
Harry van der Kamp Bass
Elliott Simpson Guitar
Tamara Stefanovich Piano
Jean-Guihen Queyras Violoncello
Gerrie de Vries Mezzosoprano
Csaba Király Pianino, Spoken Word
Yves Saelens Tenor
Asko|Schönberg
Netherlands Radio Choir
Reinbert de Leeuw
Recorded in Amsterdam’s Musikgebouw and Haarlem’s Philharmonie between March 2013 and July 2016, this 3-CD Set is a milestone in the documentation of Hungarian composer György Kurtág’s s work and also a labour of love. It brings together all of Kurtàg’s works for ensemble and for ensemble and choir. The insightful and precise performances bear witness to extensive preparation by the dedicated Asko/Schoenberg Ensemble. Conductor Reinbert de Leeuw speaks of “learning Kurtág’s oeuvre step by step, and performing these pieces repeatedly over a period of twenty years.” De Leeuw consulted extensively with György and Márta Kurtág before and after each session: “There were moments when I was overwhelmed at first hearing”, says the famously-demanding Kurtág, “and we could embrace the result immediately. But sometimes we were critical. The fact that Reinbert always listened to our remarks and re-recorded fragments or even whole pieces makes this publication authentic.” Works heard here are presented in chronological order of composition, beginning with the Four Capriccios (1959-1970, rev. 1993) and continuing withFour Songs to Poems by János Pilinszky (1975), Grabstein für Stephan (1978-79, rev. 1989), Messages of the late Miss R. Troussova (1976-80), …quasi una fantasia… (1987-88), Op. 27 No. 2 Double Concerto (1989-90), Samuel Beckett: What is the Word(1991), Songs of Despair and Sorrow (1980-1994), Songs to Poems by Anna Akhmatova (1997-2008), Colindă-Baladă (2010), andBrefs Messages (2011). Extensive CD booklet includes all song texts with translations, an interview with Reinbert de Leeuw, liner notes by Wolfgang Sandner and Paul Griffith, and a statement by György Kurtág.
CD1
GYÖRGY KURTÁG - FOUR CAPRICCIOS OP. 9
1
Paris I: Musée de Cluny: La Dame à la Licorne
01:38
2
Paris II: Tour Saint Jacques
02:34
3
Nyelvlecke / Language lesson
01:48
4
Ars poetica
02:36
GYÖRGY KURTÁG - FOUR SONGS TO POEMS BY JÁNOS PILINSZKY OP. 11
5
Alkohol
02:58
6
In Memoriam F.M. Dosztojevszkij
01:24
7
Hölderlin
00:42
8
Verés
02:56
9
GRABSTEIN FÜR STEPHAN OP. 15C(György Kurtág)
09:14
GYÖRGY KURTÁG - MESSAGES OF THE LATE MISS R. TROUSSOVA OP. 17
10
I. Loneliness: In a space of...
01:50
11
I. Loneliness: The day has fallen...
02:32
12
II. A Little Erotic: Heat
01:44
13
II. A Little Erotic: Two interlaced bodies...
03:17
14
II. A Little Erotic: Why should I not squeal like a pig...
00:41
15
II. A Little Erotic: Chastushka
01:15
16
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: You took my heart...
01:36
17
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: Great misery...
01:18
18
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: Pebbles
00:55
19
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: A slender needle
00:49
20
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: I know my loved one...
00:54
21
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: Autumn flowers fading...
01:35
22
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: In you I seek my salvation...
00:33
23
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: Your disappearances...
01:03
24
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: Without you
00:22
25
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: Love me
00:43
26
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: Payment
00:40
27
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: A plaything
00:57
28
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: Why did you utter...
00:33
29
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: In the cloudburst...
00:43
30
III. Bitter Experience - Delight and Grief: For everything...
01:16
CD 2
GYÖRGY KURTÁG - ...QUASI UNA FANTASIA... OP. 27 NO.1
1
Introduzione
01:51
2
Presto minaccioso e lamentoso (Wie ein Traumeswirren)
01:32
3
Recitativo. Grave, disperato
01:50
4
Aria - Adagio molto
03:43
GYÖRGY KURTÁG - DOUBLE CONCERTO OP. 27 NO. 2
5
I. Poco allegretto - II. L'istesso tempo (quasi più mosso) - III. Presto agitato
10:53
6
IV. Adagio - Largo
07:09
7
SAMUEL BECKETT: WHAT IS THE WORD OP. 30B(György Kurtág)
16:21
CD 3
GYÖRGY KURTÁG - SONGS OF DESPAIR AND SORROW OP. 18
1
So weary, so wretched...
03:24
2
Night, an empty street, a lamp, a drug-store
06:13
3
Blue evening
01:38
4
Where can I go to in this January?
02:33
5
Crucifixion
02:50
6
It's time
02:45
GYÖRGY KURTÁG - SONGS TO POEMS BY ANNA AKHMATOVA OP. 41
7
Pushkin
01:30
8
To Aleksandr Blok
02:49
9
Dirge
03:34
10
Voronezh
03:32
11
COLIND?-BALAD? OP. 46(György Kurtág)
17:14
GYÖRGY KURTÁG - BREFS MESSAGES OP. 47
12
Fanfare
01:11
13
Versetto: Temptavit Deus Abraham
01:11
14
Ligatura Y
03:31
15
Bornemisza Péter: Az hit...
01:45