Ligeti: Violin Concerto, Lontano, Atmosphères & San Francisco Polyphony Benjamin Schmid; Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Hannu Lintu

• 1 Lontano 15:52
• 2 I. Praeludium 04:12
• 3 II. Aria - Hoquet - Chorale 08:17
• 4 III. Intermezzo 02:32
• 5 IV. Passacaglia 06:50
• 6 V. Appassionato 06:46
• 7 Atmospheres 10:09
• 8 San Francisco Polyphony 13:42
• Total Runtime 01:08:20

Info for Ligeti: Violin Concerto, Lontano, Atmosphères & San Francisco Polyphony

Ondine proudly presents a release of the Violin Concerto and orchestral works by György Ligeti (1923-2006) featuring Benjamin Schmid, the Finnish RSO and Hannu Lintu.

The album presents an excellent overview to the development of Ligeti's compositional technique over a period of 30 years. One of the most impressive developmental progressions in the history of 20th-century music. Ligeti was inspired to use the violin as a solo instrument to explore the entire history of music. The work incorporates influences from Medieval and Renaissance music, to the late Romantic and contemporary styles. In the third movement of the Violin Concerto Ligeti gives the impression of complete chaos, freedom and spontaneousness despite detailed and thorough performance instructions.

Performing Ligeti's works is technically very challenging. Although there is often a high amount of pressure and intensity it often leads to an imagination-fuelling and mind-blowing experience!

Known for his exceptionally wide repertoire and a great sense of musicality Benjamin Schmid is one of the most versatile violinists of today. Described as 'one of the most valuable of today's golden-age-violinists' (The New York Sun), Schmid has performed with orchestras such as Wiener Philharmoniker, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, National Symphony Orchestra Washington, Gulbenkian Orchestra, and Chamber Orchestra of Europe. He is also a sought-after jazz violinist. In 2006 the Strad Magazine wrote: 'Schmid mesmerises from his very first entry, shaping phrases with a skin-rippling sensitivity to send the spirits soaring. His golden tone, immaculate intonation, faultless technique and total identification with this magical score are truly things of wonder.'

Benjamin Schmid, violin
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Hannu Lintu, conductor

Recorded at Helsinki Music Centre, 29–31 August 2012 (Violin Concerto, Lontano, Atmosphères), 1–2 March 2013 (San Francisco Polyphony)
Executive Producer: Reijo Kiilunen
Recording Producer: Laura Heikinheimo
Recording Engineer: Antti Pohjola
Mixing and Mastering: Enno Mäemets at Editroom Oy

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