Classical reviews: Ligeti and various chants

Ligeti: The 18 Études

Danny Driver, piano

Hyperion CDA 68286

★ ★ ★ ★★

The piano Études of Georgy Ligeti have become a benchmark for virtuosity, so it’s salutary to be reminded of their origin. Writing in 1995, Ligeti made it clear that the initial spur was his own inadequate piano technique. And he drew a parallel with Cezanne’s trouble with perspective: the apples and pears in the painter’s still-lifes seemed perpetually on the point of rolling away, and his tablecloths had the rigidly of plaster models. “But what wonders Cezanne accomplished with his harmonies of colour, with his emotionally charged geometry, with his curves, volumes, and weight-displacements! That’s what I would like to achieve: the transformation of inadequacy into professionalism.”

Ligeti went on to assert that his compositions were neither tonal nor atonal, neither avant-garde nor traditional. “These pieces proceed from a very simple core idea, and lead from simplicity to great complexity: they behave like growing organisms.” As Danny Driver plays them, that is how they come over: this CD invites the listener to perambulate around a garden of exotic musical blooms.

EK: Manika Kaur

Six Degrees Records

★ ★ ★ ★☆

From European classical music to the classical music of the Sikh world: Manika Kaur would in normal conditions be giving concerts in London at this time of year, but instead, she is releasing a record. “EK” means one-ness, and “Kirtan” – the name of the music she sings – means “narrating”, “describing”, or “telling”. And Kaur is the standard-bearer worldwide for the sacred chants of her community. Her voice has purity and power, and it’s backed by a combination of rare traditional instruments and modern Western ones. It’s all intensely religious, but also entirely accessible.