CD ECM Records Gyorgy Kurtag : Complete Works For Ensemble And Chorus (3 CD-Box)

2017

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|Schonberg
Netherlands Radio Choir
Reinbert de Leeuw

Four Capricios Op. 9
Four Songs To Poems By Janos Pilinszky Op. 11
Grabstein Fur Stephan Op. 15C
Messages Of The Late Miss R. Troussova Op. 17

Quasi Una Fantasia Op. 27 No. 1
Double Concerto Op. 27 No. 2
What Is The World Op. 30B < Samuel Beckett >

Songs Of Despair And Sorrow Op. 18
Songs To Poems By Anna Akhmatova Op. 41
Colind-Ballad Op. 46
Brefs Messages Op. 47


An ideal introduction to the composer’s intricate, dazzling soundworld. For De Leeuw, this was clearly a labour of love and, working closely with the composer, he delivers razor-sharp performances that draw the listener inorexably in. […] With fine choral contributions, demonstration quality sound and presentation, this is an unmissable set.

Guy Weatherall, Classical Music

An outstanding set of performances and recordings - a window into the musical mind of Hungarian composer Gyorgy Kurtag.

Andrew McGregor, BBC 3

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 with Four 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), and Brefs 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.

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