György Kurtág
composer
György Kurtág is considered a master of the subtle aphorism. His works feature prominently in the Berliner Philharmoniker’s concerts: On 22 May 1991, members of the orchestra conducted by Zoltán Peskó performed the world premiere of Grabstein für Stephan for guitar and instrumental groups distributed around the auditorium. His first major orchestral work Stele was commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker and is dedicated to Claudio Abbado, who premiered the piece on 14 December 1994 as part of a cycle of works on the theme of antiquity. Many other works by Kurtág followed – compositions in which the whispered, the dying away, and the barely perceptible repeatedly encounter explosive violence.
