Composer of the Week - Gyorgy Ligeti (1923-2006) - Episode 4

Donald Macleod is joined by composer, pianist and teacher George Benjamin to explore Ligeti's life and music. He introduces dramatic music, including excerpts from Ligeti's only opera, Le Grand Macabre, an unusual work which is often in bad taste, yet is described as containing some of the composer's best music. Car Horn Prelude (Le Grande macabre (1974-7, rev. 1996) Philharmonia Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor) Sony S2K 62312, CD1 Tr 1 Nouvelles Aventures (1962-5) - excerpt Phyllis Bryn-Julson (soprano) Rose Taylor (contralto) Omar Ebrahmim (baritone) Members of The Philharmonia Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor) Sony SK 62311, Tr 9 Clocks and Clouds (1973) Cappella Amsterdam Daniel Reuss (chorus master) Asko/Schoenberg Ensemble Reinbert de Leeuw (conductor) Teldec 8573-87631-2, Tr 3 Le Grande Macabre (excerpts from Sc 3 and interlude) Nekrotzar ...... Willard White (bass-baritone) Astradamors ...... Frode Olsen (bass) Piet the Pot ...... Graham Clark (tenor) Prince Go-Go ...... Derek Lee Ragin (countertenor) London Sinfonietta Voices Philharmonia Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor) Sony S2K 62312, CD 2, Trs 8-13 Le Grande Macabre (Finale) Amando ...... Charlotte Hellekant (mezzo-soprano) Amanda ...... Laura Claycomb (soprano) London Sinfonietta Voices Philharmonia Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor) Sony S2K 62312, CD 2 Tr 16.