Kurtág: Játékok

Composer(s):

György Kurtág
Release Date: 02-05-2025
PTC: 5187030

 19,50 27,95

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Tracks

György Kurtág (b. 1926)

Játékok (Games)

Disc 1

Book V (1997)

21) 6. A voice in the Distance (for Alfred Schlee’s 80th birthday) 1:33
24) 39. Dialog for the 70th birthday of András Mihály (or: how can one answer to the same 4 sounds with only 3) 1:33

Book VI (1997)

27) 6. Versetto: Temptavit Deus Abraham (apocryphal organum) 0:34
29) Versetto: Dixit Dominus ad Noe: finis universe cranes venit… 0:58
35) 33. Birthday Elegy for Judit - for the second finger of her left hand 1:19

Book VII (2003)

53) 29. ...Memories, Little Tin Soldiers... To Martha, for October 1st, 2000 1:26
55) 31. Rodica lui Ionescu —To Martha, for October 1st, 2001 (pianino) 3:24

Disc 2

Book IX (2017)

2) 5. Quiet dialogue — To Árpád Göncz with much love, friendship and respect 2:08
7) 19. Second Strictly Personal Letter to András Szőllősy on his 85th Birthday 1:22

in manuscript, the publication of Book XI is in progress

19) ...wie soll ich... —to Márta for 1st October 30/9/2014 Wie soll ich 2:30
21) ...le chien... to Gyuri for his 66th from his father 13/10/2020 2:03
26) Farewell — ...to My Dear Friend András Wilheim 25/1/2022 (pianino) 1:53
Total Tracks 81
Total Duration 02hr 05min

Album information

A PLAYFUL AVANT-GARDE ADVENTURE

Star pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard presents an anthology from György Kurtág’s Játékok (Games), recorded in the composer’s presence and under his artistic guidance. In his extensive series of Játékok, Kurtág realizes the spontaneity of a child exploring the piano with the compositional means of his adventurous, avant-garde idiom. Recording such an extensive collection of Játékok is an important statement for Aimard, who has developed an intimate artistic friendship with the composer over decades.

A renowned champion of twentieth-century music, Pierre-Laurent Aimard has released multiple acclaimed albums in his exclusive contract with PENTATONE, including Messiaen’s Catalogue d’Oiseaux (2018) and Visions de l’Amen (2022), along with Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata & Eroica Variations (2021). He also joined Tamara Stefanovich in Etudes and Frames (2023), with music by Vassos Nicolaou, and recorded Bartók’s Piano Concertos with the San Francisco Symphony and Esa-Pekka Salonen (2023).  The miniature nature of Kurtág’s Játékok makes them an unexpected, yet logical successor of Aimard’s acclaimed album Schubert Ländler (2024), which consisted of dances that the pianist often combines with Kurtág’s short pieces in live performances.

Released physically on 2 standard CDs.