A visionary work ahead of its time, only relying on pure sound layers, perception of absolute time, and devoid of melody or harmony. Ligeti? No, Rued Langgaard, in 1916 (this piece was finished in 1918). Ligeti, after reading Langgaard’s score, defined himself as “Langgaard’s epigone.” Studying this score is pure sensual pleasure, but also an intellectual one, thinking about how this composer, for this very piece, rebuked all rules of the time and devoted himself – and his piece – to pure sound immersion. Astonishing…. and fascinating!

I will conduct this singular work in October in Copenhagen with my beloved Danish National Symphony Orchestra at the Koncerthuset.