György Ligeti - Ligeti: String Quartets 1 & 2 / Barber: Adagio (LP)

György Ligeti's "Ligeti: String Quartets 1 & 2 / Barber: Adagio" is a captivating exploration of modern classical music, released on ECM New Series in 2013. This album presents a unique juxtaposition of Ligeti's avant-garde compositions with Samuel Barber's timeless "Adagio for Strings." Ligeti, known for his innovative and experimental approach, offers two string quartets that delve into the depths of contemporary classical music. The first quartet, "Métamorphoses nocturnes," is a single, continuous movement that evolves and transforms, while the second quartet is a five-movement work that ranges from the intense and energetic to the delicate and serene. Sandwiched between these Ligeti masterpieces is Barber's "Molto adagio," the original version of the famous "Adagio for Strings," providing a poignant and melancholic contrast to Ligeti's more abstract and complex compositions. Performed by the Keller Quartett, this album is a testament to the power and diversity of the string quartet genre, offering a rich and rewarding listening experience for fans of contemporary classical music.