CXLII. LIGETI, György: The Grand Macabre

CXLII. LIGETI, György (1923-2006)

The Grand Macabre (1974-77; rev. 1996)
Opera in Two Acts
(Scenic performance)
Elizabeth Watts, Amanda
Marta Fontanals Simmons, Amando
Mark Schowalter, Piet the Pot
Werner Van Mechelen, Nekrotzar
Heidi Melton, Mescalina
Claire de Sévigné, Venus
Anthony Roth Costanzo, Prince Go-Go
John Relyea, Black-Party Minister
Andrew Dickinson, White-Party Minister
Audrey Luna, Chief of the Gepopo
Rob Besserer, Atmosphericist
Dávid Csizmár, Ruffiack
Christoph Liebold, Schobiak
Fabian Kuhnen, Schabernack
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra
NDR Choir
Alan Gilbert, cond.
(2:01:33)

If you've seen Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, you're already familiar with Ligeti's music (see Post LXXVI) ...

This -- his only opera -- is a hysterical story about the coming Apocalypse, which takes place in a country called Breughelland. It begins with an overture for car horns and gets crazier from there.

If you don't have two hours, you'll certainly have fun reading the synopsis.