György Ligeti

Mysteries of the Macabre

Title
Mysteries of the Macabre
Subtitle
Three arias from the opera Le Grand Macabre for solo trumpet in C and orchestra
Category
Orchestra with Soloist(s)
mit Trompete
Duration
9:00
Number of performers
39
Instrumentation
pic. · 1 · 3 (3rd also ca.) · 2 (2nd also bcl.) · 2 (2nd also cbn.) - 4 · 2 · cbtbn. · cbtba. - perc. (b.dr. · s.dr. · tom. · cga · tamb. · stir dr. · crot. · 2 pairs of cymbals · s.c. · t.-t. · mar. · 4 bong. · cast. · ratch. · guiro · w.bl. · 4 temple bl. · police whistle · whistle · slide whistle · trgl. · glock. · xyl. · sandpaper · large sheet of paper, which can be loudly crunched) (2 peformers) - cel. (also hpd.) · pf. (also eorg.) - hp. · mand. - str. (3 · 0 · 2 · 6 · 4)
Composition year(s)
1974
World premiere
1994-01-20
Paris · Philippe Lisler, trumpet · Orchestre National de France · conductor: Oswald Sallaberger
Commissioner
Paris · Orchestre National de France · Philippe Lisler, Trompete · Dir.: Oswald Sallaberger
Comment of the composer on the work

Mysteries of the Macabre for solo trumpet and chamber orchestra is a variant of the same piece for coloratura soprano. It is an arrangement of three arias sung by the Chief of the Secret Police in my opera Le Grand Macabre and was rescored for chamber orchestra by Elgar Howarth, who conducted the opera’s first performance in Stockholm in 1978, as well as a number of later productions.

© 2001–2003 Teldec Classics & 2004 Warner Classics, Warner Music UK Ltd | Translation: Louise Duchesneau

Publisher