Repertoire

These twelve miniatures exemplify Kurtág's distinctive style : short works, infused with quotations and tributes to composers, musicians and friends. The music of the Hungarian composer proves unfailingly distinctive and is marked with astounding depth and expressiveness. Putting Kurtág's music side by side with that of Webern reveals a genuine and manifest kinship, especially in view of their works being scarce and of brief durations, and as well because most of them are written for small ensembles. The twelve pieces are very short but each one embodies a universe unto itself, a whole world contained in a single drop of water. Their density of expression is immense and their emotional impact is striking. Here, one cannot refer to notions such as passing tones, appoggiaturas or transition tones. Every moment leaves its mark.

Written in 1977, Hommage à András Mihály is dedicated to the city of Witten and pays tribute to the Hungarian composer, conductor and cellist András Mihály.