This Teldec collection was a project close to György Ligeti’s heart – the pioneering Hungarian composer was actively involved in the recording process up until his death in 2006. The artists had long-standing relationships with Ligeti and his work, both in the studio and in concert: pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Schönberg and Asko Ensembles led by Reinbert de Leeuw.

The liner notes, written by Ligeti himself, contain a brilliant and illustrative essay about the genesis and composition of each work. From the massed sonic clouds of the orchestral masterpiece Atmosphères to rarities like Elgar Howarth’s arrangements of excerpts from the opera Le Grand Macabre and Max Bonnay’s accordion transcription of Musica Ricercata, this 5-CD set reveals the iconoclastic genius of Ligeti as well as his sharp musical sense of humour.

'A superb recording, and fascinating sounds from a contemporary composer who never sounds quite like anyone else, and also writes good notes about his own music. If only all CDs of contemporary composers were this interesting, and necessary…’ - Andrew McGregor, BBC.co.uk (Vol.3)

‘In the year of his 80th birthday, these are glorious accounts of great 20th-century works… Ligeti continues to explore and colonise new ground voraciously… if Ligeti’s music has a trademark, it is unpredictability…He remains one of the severest critics of contemporary music, as well as one of its greatest composers’ - The Guardian (Vol.4)

Contents:
CD 1 [64.05]
- Melodien
- Chamber Concerto for thirteen instrumentalists
Schönberg Ensemble / Reinbert de Leeuw

- Piano Concerto
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano)

- Mysteries of the Macabre for solo trumpet and chamber orchestra (arr. Elgar Howarth)
Peter Masseurs (trumpet)
Asko Ensemble / Reinbert de Leeuw

CD 2 [54.34]
- Lontano for orchestra
- Atmosphères for orchestra
- Apparitions for orchestra
- San Francisco Polyphony for orchestra
- Concert românesc (Romanian Concerto) for orchestra
Berliner Philharmoniker / Jonathan Nott

CD 3 [67.15]
- Cello Concerto, dedicated to Siegfried Palm
Siegfried Palm (cello)

- Clocks and Clouds, for twelve female voices
Cappella Amsterdam / Daniel Reuss

- Violin Concerto (1992)
Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin)
Asko Ensemble • Schönberg Ensemble / Reinbert de Leeuw

- Síppal, dobbal, nádihegedu´´vel: Weöres Sándor verseire (2000)
Katalin Károlyi (mezzo-soprano) • Amadinda Percussion Group

CD 4 [66.01]
- Hamburg Concerto (Hamburgisches Konzert), for solo horn and chamber orchestra with four obligato natural horns
Marie Luise Neunecker (horn) • Sybille Mahni (natural horn) • Simon Breyer (natural horn) • Thomas Bernstein (natural horn) • Ozan Çakar obligato (natural horn)

- Double Concerto for flute, oboe and orchestra (1972)
Heinz Holliger (oboe) • Jacques Zoon (flute)

- Ramifications for 12 solo strings (1968/69)
Asko Ensemble • Schönberg Ensemble / Reinbert de Leeuw

- Requiem, for soprano and mezzo-soprano solo, mixed chorus and orchestra
Caroline Stein (soprano) • Margriet van Reisen (mezzo-soprano)
London Voices Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker / Jonathan Nott

CD 5 [67.12]
- Aventures, Nouvelles Aventures, for three singers and seven instrumentalists
Sarah Leonard (soprano) • Linda Hirst (mezzo-soprano) • Omar Ebrahim (baritone)
Schönberg Ensemble / Reinbert de Leeuw

- Artikulation for Tape (2-channel down-mix of the original 4-channel tape)

- Eight Pieces from 'Musica ricercata' for accordion [bayan] (arr. Max Bonnay)
Max Bonnay (accordion)

- Sonata for Cello Solo
David Geringas (cello)

- The Big Turtle Fanfare from the South China Sea, for trumpet solo
Peter Masseurs (trumpet)

- Balada s¸i joc (Ballad and Dance) after Romanian Folksongs for school orchestra
- Régi magyar társas táncok (Old Hungarian Ballroom Dances), for flute, clarinet and strings
Asko Ensemble • Schönberg Ensemble / Reinbert de Leeuw