György Kurtág: scenes

Gyorgy Kurtag, 93, ranks among the great living composers of classical modernism. Consistently shortening and accentuating his works, he perfected his aphoristic style, producing concise miniatures. This new album is dedicated to previously unreleased works by Kurtag, presenting for the first time twenty-two movements after Georg Christoph Lichtenberg’s Sudelbucher, scored for soprano and double bass: a real discovery of aphorisms. Also based on literary models are his Scenes from a Novel, Op. 19, after fifteen poems by Rimma Dalos (soprano, violin, cimbalom, double bass). The Seven Songs, Op. 22 (soprano, cimbalom) and In Memory of a Winter Evening, Op. 8 (soprano, violin, cimbalom), appear for the first time on album. This thoughtfully compiled collection shows the Hungarian master as one of the most individual artistic voices of our time. The four internationally renowned soloists, here in the original and charming formation of soprano, violin, cimbalom and double bass, interpret some of the most densely wrought pieces by Gyorgy Kurtag.