“Of all the 20th-century master composers, Gyorgy Ligeti, who died at 83 in 2006, may be the most empowering model for a new generation,” writes Anthony Tommasini in Tuesday’s (6/7) New York Times. “This came through during three exhilarating concerts last weekend at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Called Ligeti Forward, this series, the brainchild of the brilliant, insatiably inquisitive young cellist Jay Campbell, was presented as part of the NY Phil Biennial.… It was inspiring to see the mostly young musicians involved with this series, including the impressive players of the Lucerne Festival Alumni ensemble, so swept up in these challenging programs. Mr. Campbell’s concept for Ligeti Forward was centered on performances of this composer’s pathbreaking concertos for piano, cello and violin, featuring the pianist Conor Hanick, Mr. Campbell and the violinist Pekka Kuusisto. The concertos were performed along with works by composers variously influenced by Ligeti. At 49, [New York Philharmonic Music Director] Alan Gilbert, who conducted the concertos … exuded youthful enthusiasm.” In addition to Ligeti, the concerts included works by Alexandre Lunsqui, Unsuk Chin, Marc-André Dalbavie, Dai Fujikura, John Zorn, and Gérard Grisey. “Mr. Gilbert, the proprietor of the biennial, beamed.”
Posted June 9, 2016
