Masterworks by György Ligeti: A Wild Ride Through Sound
Let’s be real—György Ligeti wasn’t exactly your chill playlist composer. The guy had a knack for making music that feels like it’s straight out of some surreal fever dream, and Masterworks (released in 2019 on Sony Classical) is no exception. This album dives deep into his modern classical vibe, blending contemporary sounds with traditional Hungarian folk vibes. It’s not always easy listening, but hey, who said great art has to be comfortable?
The credits alone read like an international phone book—Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting here, London Sinfonietta Voices chiming in there, Pierre-Laurent Aimard tickling the ivories like he owns them. And don’t even get me started on all those Hungarian adaptations by Pierre Charial. There are so many moving parts you’d think this thing was assembled by NASA engineers instead of musicians.
Now, let’s zoom in on two tracks that stuck with me because they’re just… weirdly unforgettable.
First up: “Lux Aeterna • Sostenuto, Molto Calmo.” If you’ve ever wondered what eternity might sound like if it were made of whispers and echoes, this is it. The piece builds slowly, almost imperceptibly, layering voices until it feels like you're floating through space. I swear, halfway through, I forgot where I was sitting—I mean, seriously, my cat gave me side-eye because I stopped petting her mid-stroke. Malena Ernman and Phyllis Bryn-Julson absolutely crush their mezzo-soprano and soprano roles, respectively. Their vocals weave together like threads in some cosmic tapestry, leaving you feeling both grounded and completely untethered at the same time. Weird? Yeah. But also kinda magical.
Then there’s “Mysteries Of The Macabre - Arranged For Coloratura Soprano And Ensemble.” Oh man, this one hits different. Imagine someone took opera, shook it violently, and then threw it into a blender with avant-garde jazz. That’s what this track feels like. Sibylle Ehlert as Gepopo delivers lines like “Tsk… Psssst!” with such theatrical flair you can practically see her raising an eyebrow from behind the mic. The interplay between the ensemble and her voice is chaotic yet controlled—it’s like watching a tightrope walker juggle flaming swords while balancing on a unicycle. You know disaster could strike at any moment, but somehow it never does. By the end, I found myself laughing out loud—not because it’s funny per se, but because it’s just so gloriously over-the-top.
What blows my mind about Masterworks is how Ligeti manages to make something so complex feel oddly human. Sure, the technical brilliance is undeniable—the intricate compositions, the meticulous arrangements—but beneath all that polish lies raw emotion. Whether it’s joy, confusion, or existential dread, these pieces hit hard.
And honestly? Listening to this album felt less like critiquing music and more like wandering through an art gallery where every painting tries to hypnotize you. Some rooms leave you breathless; others make you want to back away slowly. But either way, you walk out changed.
So yeah, if you’re looking for background music to sip coffee to, maybe skip this one. But if you’re ready to have your brain gently scrambled and rearranged, give Masterworks a spin. Just don’t blame me when your cat starts giving you judgmental stares too.
I. Two Dreams And Little Bat • Poco Animato, Gently Swinging
2:14
II. Cuckoo In The Pear-Tree • Lively
1:33
Finale. Passacaglia: "Ah, It Was Good" (Amanda, Amando, All Withouth Nekrotzar)
5:07
VI. Presto Staccatissimo E Leggiero
1:05
Poème Symphonique - For 100 Metronomes
19:56
II. Cordes À Vide • Andantino Con Moto, Molto Tenero
3:16
XI. (Ommagio A Girolamo Frescobaldi) Andante Misurato E Tranquillo
3:54
Capriccio No. 1 • Allegretto Carpiccioso
2:33
Nem Láttam Én Télbe Fecskét • Allegro
1:42
III. Lento
1:37
III. Come Un Meccanismo Di Precisione
3:04
VIII. Allegro Con Delicatezza
2:37
Prestissimo
4:35
XIVa. Coloana Fără Sfârşit (1993; Original Version For Player Piano) • Presto Possibile, Tempestoso Con Fuoco
1:04
Adaptations For Player Piano
Reggel • Vivace, Stridente
1:22
"There's No Need To Fear" (Astradamors, Piet, Nekrotzar)
3:02
Még Azt Mondják • Allegro, Giusto (Un Poco Pesante)
2:03
IV. Presto Con Sordino • So Schnell Wie Möglich
1:38
Allegro
0:42
IV. Presto Ruvido
0:59
II. A Legszebb Virág • Moderato, Con Moto
2:29
Scene Three
Capriccio No. 1 • Allegretto Capriccioso
3:55
"Melting Snow Is Thy Breast!" (Amando, Amanda)
2:36
IV. Lamento. Adagio
7:44
VII. Galamb Borong - Adapted For 2 Players Piano • Vivacissimo Luminoso, Legato Possibile
2:16
Lux Aeterna • Sostenuto, Molto Calmo, "From Afar"
8:06
XIII. L'Escalier Du Diable • Presto Legato Ma Leggiero
5:16
Tempo Di Valse, Moderato, Con Eleganza, Un Poco Capriccioso
2:18
II. Rubato. Lamentoso
3:01
Scene Four
II. Andante
1:39
"Tsk…" - "Psssst!" - "Ha! Head Of My Secret Service!" (Chorus, Gepopo, Prince Go-Go, White Minister, Black Minister)
6:21
II. Mesto, Rigido E Cerimoniale
3:52
V. The Lobster Quadrille • Allegro Molto Leggiero E Ritmico
1:50
I. Csalfa Sugár • Andantino, Semplice
2:02
Nouvelles Aventures (1962-1965)
"Oh … !" - "Amanda! Can Do No More!" (Amanda, Amando, Piet)
0:41
"Ghost Astradamors, Are You Dead?" (Piet, Astradamors, Prince Go-Go, Ruffiack, Schobiack, Schabernack, Nekrotzar, Mescalina, White Minister, Black Minister)
3:39
IV. Presto Furioso, Brutale, Tumultuoso
2:03
III. 90. Etüd (Vásár) • Tempo Giusto - Allegro Vivace - Allegro Con Anima
2:20
XIV. Coloana Infinită • Presto Possibile, Tempestoso Con Fuoco
IX. (Béla Bartók In Memoriam) Adagio. Mesto - Allegro Maestoso
2:15
I. 9. Etüd (Spiegelkanon) • Moderato Meccanico
1:50
III. Vissza Ne Nézz • Lento
0:50
"Hurray, Hurray! My Wife Is Dead" (Astradamors, Prince Go-Go, Chorus)
2:00
III. Abendphantasie • Maestoso - Più Mosso, Agitato
3:16
I. Siralmas Nékem • Poco Lento, Semplice
1:15
Andante Tranquillo
2:29
Éjszaka • Andante Con Moto
2:24
VI. Allegro Molto Capriccioso
0:50
"Shapely And Attractive Figure" (Mescalina, Astradamors)
3:19
III. Hopp Ide Tisztán • Andantino. Nyugodtan [Tranquillo]
1:16
Polifón Etüd • Allegro Comodo
2:09
Bethlehemi Királyok • Vidáman [Allegro]
1:59
Hungarian Rock (Chaconne, 1978) • Vivacissimo Molto Ritmico
5:08
És Az Eső Fú A Széi • Più Mosso (Vivace, Leggiero)
1:21
III. Facsar • Andante Cantabile Ed Espressivo, With Swing
6:58
III. Touches Bloquées • Presto Possibile, Sempre Molto Ritmico
1:57
I. Harmonies • Rubato, Sempre Legatissimo
6:42
Allegretto Poco Capriccioso
6:31
Inaktelki Nóták - Adaptations Of Hungarian Folksongs
Volumina (1961/1962)
14:41
Baladă Şi Joc - Ballad And Dance For Two Violins
V. Arc-En-Ciel • Andante Molto Rubato, Con Eleganza, With Swing
3:52
VI. A Long, Sad Tale • Vivacissimo Leggiero E Molto Ritmico (Like Jazz!)
1:28
IV. Tempo De Valse (Poco Vivace - « À L'Orge De Barbarie »)
1:52
Adaptations For Barrel Organ
Adaptation For Barrel Organ: Musica Ricercata (1951-1953)
Trio For Violin, Horn And Piano
Pápainé - Traditional Hungarian Ballad • Andante Moderato
3:34
Passacaglia Ungherese • Andante
5:02
Hommage À Hilding Rosenberg - For Violin And Violoncello
Eb Fél, Kutya Fél • Allegro Molto
1:33
Idegen Földön
Invention • Risoluto
1:23
III. Vivace
1:20
Agitato Molto
4:39
Études Pour Piano (Premier Livre, 1985)
Három Weöres-Dal (1946-1947)
IV. Fujdogál A Nyári Szél • Allegretto Con Moto, Giocoso E Molto Leggiere
0:43
"Who's There? A Man?" - "A Man!" (Mescalina, Nekrotzar, Venus, Piet, Astradamors)
2:23
IV. Prestissimo Leggiero E Virtuoso
0:52
II. Coulées • Prestissimo, Sempre Legato
4:03
V. Presto Staccatissimo E Leggiero
0:28
II. Prestissimo Minaccioso E Burlesco
0:45
Magos Kősziklának - Adaptation Of A Hungarian Folksong
2:09
"Where Am I? What Time Is It?" (Nekrotzar, Piet, Prince Go-Go, Astradamors, Chorus)
5:46
IV. Mikor Kedves Laci Bátyám
1:13
Musica Ricercata (1951-1953)
Vivace, Capriccioso
1:59
IX. Sostenuto, Stridente
1:09
Sonata For Solo Viola (1991-94)
Magyar Etüdök
XI. En Suspens • Andante Con Moto, « Avec L'Élégance Du Swing »
2:07
Ricercare - Omaggio A Girolamo Frescobaldi • Andante Misurato, Molto Tranquillo E Legato
4:34
III. A Csendes Dalokból • Allegro, Giusto E Rigoroso
0:52
I. Allegro Con Spirito
1:11
Der Sommer • Andante Misurato
3:12
Presto
2:44
Hungarian Rock (Chaconne; 1978) • Vivacissimo Molto Ritmico
4:52
III. Alla Marcia
3:18
V. Az Ördög Elvitte A Fináncot • Parlando - Allegro Giusto
2:09
III. Kalmár Jött Nagy Madarakkal • Lento
2:10
IX. Vertige • Prestissimo Sempre Molto Legato, Sehr Gleichmäßig
3:03
VI. Molto Vivace. Capriccioso
1:24
III. Allegro Con Spirito
1:12
IV. Flying Robert • Passacaglia. Tempo Giusto
2:43
V. Adagio. Mesto
2:25
II. Igaz Szerelem • Andante
1:16
I. A Menyasszony Szép Virág • Allegretto. Szeliden
2:04
Baladă. Andante
1:54
Haróm Lakodalmi Tánc
X. Presto Bizzarro E Rubato, So Schnell Wie Möglich
1:08
Interlude
1:34
"Up!" - "Drink!" - "Up!" (Nekrotzar, Piet, Astradamors, Prince Go-Go)
1:28
II. Egy Fekete Holló • Rubato - Andante - Più Mosso
1:13
String Quartet No. 2
I. Ha Folyóvíz Volnék • Adagio Ma Non Troppo
2:11
II. Da Capo: Úri Bicsok, Nincsen Nyele • Allegro
0:51
Kállai Kettős - Adaptations Of Hungarian Folksongs
Andante Con Moto
1:09
Mátraszentimrei Dalok - Adaptations Of Hungarian Folksongs
I. Désordre • Molto Vivace, Vigoroso, Molto Ritmico
2:22
Aventures • Agitato
11:20
II. Wann Aus Der Ferne • Andante Con Tenerezza
5:08
III. Allegro Grazioso
2:39
Öt Arany-Dal
Húsvét • Vidáman [Allegro]
2:43
VII. Vivo, Energico
0:58
Three Pieces For Two Pianos
Lakodalmas • Adaptation Of A Hungarian Folksong
1:07
IV. Tempo De Valse (Poco Vivace - « À L'Orgue De Barbarie »)
2:18
Études Pour Piano (Deuxième Livre)
II. Sostenuto, Molto Calmo
4:32
"Ahh! … Secret Cypher!" (Gepopo, Prince Go-Go, White Minister, Black Minister, Chorus)
5:36
II. A Kapuban A Szekér • Allegro
0:40
Galimatias: "Hmm! It's Delicious!" (Nekrotzar, Piet, Astradamors, Prince Go-Go)
4:45
XI. (Omaggio A Girolamo Frescobaldi) Andante Misurato E Tranquillo
4:14
I. Hora Lungă • Lento Rubato (Ma Ritmico)
5:49
Car Horn Prelude
0:57
Allegretto, Un Poco Gioviale
2:56
Két Kánon
X. Vivace. Capriccioso
1:22
VI. Automne À Varsovie • Presto Cantabile, Molto Ritmico E Flessibile
4:27
V. Rubato. Lamentoso
3:12
Négy Lakoldami Tánc - Adaptations Of Hungarian Folksongs
I. Andantino Con Tenerezza
6:13
II. Úri Bicsok, Nincsen Nyele • Allegro
0:58
Nonsense Madrigals
Continuum • Prestissimo
3:22
Felüről Fúj As Őszi Szél • Andante
1:33
I. Monument • Streng Und Genau
4:23
Finale: "Fire And Death I Bring" (Nekrotzar, Piet, Astradamors)
3:27
"Shut Up!" (Nekrotzar, Piet, Chorus)
4:13
I. Allegro Nervoso
4:46
VII. Galamb Borong • Vivacissimo Luminoso, Legato Possibile
2:48
"Posture Exercises!" (Black Minister, White Minister, Prince Go-Go)
2:27
Doorbell Prelude
0:56
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Catalog Numbers
190758779225
Labels
Sony Classical
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Formats
9 × CD Box Set
Compilation
Companies
Role
Company
Phonographic Copyright (p)
Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Copyright (c)
Sony Music Entertainment
Distributed By
Sony Music Entertainment
Published By
Schott Musik International
Recorded At
Henry Wood Hall, London
Credits
Role
Credit
Baritone Vocals
Omar Ebrahim (tracks: 4-8 to 4-10), Philip Lawson (tracks: 4-1 to 4-6)
Baritone Vocals [Bass-baritone
Nekrotzar]
Barrel Organ
Pierre Charial (tracks: 5-1 to 5-5, 5-7 to 5-17)
Adapted By
Pierre Charial (tracks: 5-1 to 5-5, 5-7 to 5-17)
Bass Vocals
Stephen Connolly (tracks: 4-1 to 4-6)
Bassoon
Robin O'Neill (tracks: 7-5 to 7-20)
Cello
Rohan De Saram (tracks: 1-1 to 1-18)
Choir
London Sinfonietta Voices (tracks: 2-1 to 2-37, 8-1 to 9-16), The King's Singers (tracks: 4-1 to 4-6)
Chorus Master
Terry Edwards (tracks: 2-1 to 2-37)
Clarinet
Michael Collins (tracks: 7-5 to 7-20)
Composed By
György Ligeti
Conductor
Esa-Pekka Salonen (tracks: 4-7 to 4-10)
Contralto Vocals
Rose Taylor (tracks: 4-8 to 4-10)
Countertenor Vocals
David Hurley (tracks: 4-1 to 4-6), Nigel Short (tracks: 4-1 to 4-6)
Design
Christine Schweitzer
Booklet Editor
Christine Schweitzer
Directed By
Terry Edwards (tracks: 8-1 to 9-16)
Edited By
Matthew Cocker (tracks: 8-1 to 9-16)
Engineer
Marcus Herzog (tracks: 2-1 to 2-37, 4-7 to 4-10, 6-19 to 6-22), Markus Heiland (tracks: 7-1 to 7-4), Mike Ross-Trevor (tracks: 4-1 to 4-6, 7-5 to 7-20), Teije Van Geest (tracks: 7-21 to 7-26), Ulrich Schneider (tracks: 1-1 to 1-18, 3-1 to 3-26, 4-11 to 5-24)
Ensemble
Arditt String Quartet (tracks: 1-1 to 1-18), London Winds (tracks: 7-5 to 7-20)
Executive-Producer
Dr. Steven E. Paul (tracks: 1-1 to 7-26)
Flute
Philippa Davies (tracks: 7-5 to 7-20)
Horn
Marie-Luise Neunecker (tracks: 7-1 to 7-4), Richard Watkins (tracks: 7-5 to 7-20)
Libretto By
György Ligeti (tracks: 8-1 to 9-16), Michael Meschke (tracks: 8-1 to 9-16)
Mezzo-soprano Vocals
Malena Ernman (tracks: 4-20 to 4-23)
Oboe
Gareth Hulse (tracks: 7-5 to 7-20)
Orchestra
Members Of The Philharmonia Orchestra (tracks: 4-7 to 4-10), Philharmonia Orchestra (tracks: 8-1 to 9-16)
Piano
Irina Kataeva (tracks: 6-1 to 6-15), Pierre-Laurent Aimard (tracks: 3-1 to 3-26, 4-12 to 4-23, 6-1 to 6-9, 6-13 to 6-15, 7-1 to 7-4)
Player Piano
Jürgen Hocker (tracks: 5-18 to 5-24)
Producer
David Mottley (tracks: 1-1 to 1-18, 4-7 to 4-10), Georg Fassbinder (tracks: 6-1 to 6-18, 7-5 to 7-20), Sid McLauchlan (tracks: 2-1 to 2-37), Teije Van Geest (tracks: 7-21 to 7-26), Ulrich Schneider (tracks: 3-1 to 4-6, 4-11 to 5-24, 7-1 to 7-4, 8-1 to 9-16)
Programmed By
Horst Mohr (tracks: 5-18 to 5-24), Walter Tenten (tracks: 5-18 to 5-24)
Repetiteur
György Ligeti (tracks: 2-1 to 2-37), Peter Sherwood (tracks: 2-1 to 2-37)
Soprano Vocals
Eva Wedin (tracks: 4-20 to 4-23), Phyllis Bryn-Julson (tracks: 4-8 to 4-10), Rosemary Hardy (tracks: 4-12 to 4-23)
Soprano Vocals [Gepopo
Sibylle Ehlert (tracks: 8-1 to 9-16)
Venus]
Sibylle Ehlert (tracks: 8-1 to 9-16)
Technician
Andreas Kawa (tracks: 1-1 to 1-18), Olaf Schmelzer (tracks: 2-1 to 2-37)
Tenor Vocals
Bruce Russell (tracks: 4-1 to 4-6), Bob Chilcott (tracks: 4-1 to 4-6)
Viola
Tabea Zimmermann (tracks: 7-21 to 7-26)
Violin
Saschko Gawriloff (tracks: 7-1 to 7-4)
Notes
Originally issued 2010 Sony Classical under title: György Ligeti: Works
Made in the EU.
Packaging: CDs housed in individual cardsleeves. Includes a booklet with complete track listing in English.
_________________________________
• Disc one:
Recorded at Henry Wood Hall, Trinity Church Square, London on July 13-15, 1994.
Publisher: Schott Musik International, Mainz.
Total time: 58.20.
℗ 1996 Sony Classical, a division of Sony Entertainment Holdings GmbH.
• Disc two:
Recorded at Evangelische Kirche Isselhorst, Gütersloh, Germany on April 21-26, 1994.
Publisher: Schott Musik International, Mainz - Peters, Frankfurt .
Total time: 75.29.
• Disc three:
Recorded at Salle de Musique, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland on December 6-9, 1995.
Total time: 74.16.
• Disc four:
Recorded at Whitfield Street Studios, London on October 12-15, 1995 (1-6); at Air Studios, Lyndhurst Hall, Hampstead on December 2-4, 1995 (7-10); at ORF Studio 3, Salzburg on August 24, 1996 and at Swedish Radio Studio 2, Stockholm on August 27-28, 1996 (12-23).
Publishers: Schott Musik International, Mainz - Peters, Frankfurt (8-10).
Total time: 68.59.
• Disc five:
A recording from the DeutschlandRadio, Funkhaus Köln, Germany, October 31-November 2, 1995.
Total time: 75.18.
• Disc six:
Tracks 1-18 recorded at Friedrich-Hebert-Halle, Harburg, Germany, February 24-27, 1995.
Tracks 19-22 recorded at St. Martin Church, Olten, Switzerland, November 4-5, 1995.
Organ: M. Mathis & Söhne.
Publishers: Schott Musik International, Mainz - Peters, Frankfurt (Volumina).
Total time: 78.04.
℗ 1997 Sony Classical, a division of Sony Entertainment Holdings GmbH.
• Disc 7:
Tracks 1-4 recorded at Salle de Musique, Musica-Théâtre, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, May 9/10, 1996.
Tracks 5-20 recorded at Whitfield Street Studios, London, March 10/11, 1995.
Tracks 21-26 recorded at Tonstudio Sandhausen, Germany, November 20-22, 1994.
Total time: 71.01.
℗ 1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
• Discs eight and nine:
Recorded live in Paris, France, at the Théatre du Châtelet on February 5, 7, 9, 11 & 13, 1998, during the Salzburger Festspiele.
Total time: 43.12 / 59.15.
℗ 1999 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
__________________
This release compiles the "György Ligeti Edition", previously issued separately.
Barcodes
Barcode (Text): 1 90758 779225
Barcode (String): 190758779225
Label Code: LC 06868
Rights Society: GEMA
Rights Society: BIEM
SPARS Code: DDD
About György Ligeti
Austrian composer, born 28th May 1923 in Tîrnăveni (Romania), died 12th June 2006 in Wien (Vienna, Austria).
Studied composition in Cluj (Romania) and in Budapest (Hungary). From 1957 to 1959 he worked in Cologne at the Studio for Electronic Music of the WDR (West German Radio). He settled in Vienna in 1959 and became an Austrian citizen in 1967.
His style is characterized by a very dense polyphony (micropolyphony) and static forms (as in Lux aeterna, for choir, 1968, or in Requiem, 1963-65), and by a complex polyrhythmic technique (Etudes for piano, 1985).
Here’s an interesting fact: The album *Masterworks* by György Ligeti, released in 2019, is a stunning showcase of his genius blending classical traditions with avant-garde innovation. One standout detail? The track *Mysteries of the Macabre*, arranged for coloratura soprano and ensemble, was adapted from his opera *Le Grand Macabre*. It’s a wild, theatrical piece that pushes the soprano’s voice to extremes—think acrobatics meets absurdity. Fun twist: this version features Sibylle Ehlert, who brings the character Venus to life with dazzling vocal fireworks. It’s like hearing opera crash into a surrealist dream, and it’s pure Ligeti.
