Three concertos by Péter Eötvös performed by major European ensembles: Ensemble Contrechamps, Concerto Budapest, and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.

Eötvös followed the shocking news of the pandemic from Geneva, and in Fermata he wrote 'musical situation reports' and reactions. Each new piece of music stops the previous one with tragic suddenness, signalling the cessation of the habitual way of life and the resulting uncertainty. The performers are positioned a metre and a half apart, which not only takes precautions but also opens the way for new sounds. Born as a reimagining of Replica, Respond is based on the farewell scenes of Eötvös's first opera, The Three Sisters. The infinite sadness of farewell, the unpredictability of a new phase of life, and the helpless resignation to the situation, give the composition a tragic tone. Whereas in Fermata the composer's attitude is that of a reporter-commentator, in Respond a composer who observes spiritual processes from the inside, in Cziffra-Psodia storytelling becomes the dominant feature. The piece was written to celebrate the 100th birthday of György Cziffra, whom Eötvös knew personally. The pianist's dramatic life, rich in extreme turns, inspired a similarly rhapsodic composition: it reflects his work in the quarry of the prison as well as his meditative state of isolation from the public. The musical material translates the letters of Cziffra's French name into chords and scales, and the cimbalom, Cziffra's father's instrument, plays an important role in the orchestration.
Péter Eötvös, who passed away in March, was one of the most important composers, conductors and teachers of our time, whose activities were also closely linked to the Budapest Music Center.
Many of Eötvös's archival recordings, early experimental works, new works and performances of classical compositions conducted by him were also released by BMC Records, with the composer always participating in the process and authenticating the albums.

Media

Track Listing

• Fermata
• Respond
• Cziffra Psodia I.
• Cziffra Psodia II.
• Cziffra Psodia III.
• Cziffra Psodia

Additional Details

Label: BMC Records

Genre: Contemporary Instrumental

Run Time: 65:36 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 07/05/24

UPC: 5998309303326