SMORGAS CHORD FESTIVAL
17 June 2023 | Oxford
Smorgaschord 2023 celebrates the centenary of the dazzling Hungarian composer, György Ligeti, surely one of the most infectiously brilliant composers of all time. Ligeti lived an extraordinary life. A Hungarian born in Romania to a Jewish family, his early life was characterised by the trauma of the catastrophic events of the Second World War.
His music always packs a tremendous emotional punch. It is exuberant, full of imagination, zany, shocking - and often completely hilarious. There is no composer with a greater range of emotions - from apocalyptic devastation to farcical immaturity. But perhaps what is most amazing about Ligeti is the exuberance and enthusiasm of his music. He was fascinated by everything: music, art, film, poetry - from all over the world and from all across history.
And so, in just one day in June, we’re hoping to capture a snapshot of that eclecticism in our festival. We have some extraordinary musicians coming to join us, including pianist Danny Driver, horn-player Ben Goldscheider, the Kleio String Quartet, and violinist Stephen
featured artist
Waarts. The format is short and sweet: three concerts, each around an hour in length, across the span of one gorgeous, midsummer day.
True to our ambitions, brand new music will feature prominently in the day. A particular treat will be the first UK performance of a new version of a piece by György Kurtág and his son, Kurtág Jr, called Zwiegespräch. We are thrilled that Kurtág Jr himself will be joining us to play electronics in the performance.
There’s also the opportunity to hear the world premiere of a piece by composer Laurence Osborn for horn-player Ben Golscheider, especially commissioned by Smorgaschord for this year's festival. It will be utterly fascinating to hear what extraordinary new sounds Laurence will conjure up for us. As part of his afternoon recital, Danny Driver will also give the first UK performance of piano miniatures by Martin Suckling and Thomas Adès.
Danny will also perform music by the Irish composer, Deidre McKay, described by the Irish Examiner as ‘exceptionally imaginative in the sound world she creates’.
Danny Driver
We are thrilled that Danny Driver will be coming to Smorgaschord to play not only a beautifully thoughtful solo recital, but also Ligeti’s fabulous Horn Trio.
Danny is celebrated as one of the finest interpreters of Ligeti’s keyboard works, praised for his ‘profound understanding’ that ‘reveals music of dazzling originality’ (The Guardian).
In his afternoon recital, Danny has constructed a fascinating programme in which selections from Ligeti’s Études are interwoven with other jewels from twentieth-century piano literature.
Driver’s recital career to date has included numerous appearances at London’s Wigmore Hall, including four livestreamed solo and chamber recitals during the 2020-21 lockdown period, and a threeconcert series in 2021-22 devoted to György Ligeti and his musical world.
Elsewhere Driver has given solo recitals at the Southbank Centre’s International Piano Series, Music Toronto, San Francisco Performances, Montreal’s Salle Bourgie, and Klavierraritäten Husum, while enjoying ongoing associations with festivals such as the Lammermuir (Scotland), Lichfield (England) and Bard Summerscape (USA).
in focus
Joshua Uzoigwe
It’s a real thrill to be able to present music by the Nigerian composer Joshua Uzoigwe (1946-2005). A highly accomplished pianist, Uzoigwe wrote a series of stunning miniatures for piano, each involving rhythms found in the music of the Igbo, of which he was a member. Uzoigwe takes Igbo rhythms and turns them into highly characterful piano music, inspired in part by Bartók’s use of folk song in his piano music.
Kurtag's ZWIEGESPRaCH
Of all the treats of Smorgaschord 2023, perhaps the sweetest will be the first UK performance of a new version of Kurtág’s Zwiegespräch, a piece the great Hungarian composer wrote in collaboration with his son, Kurtág Jr. The piece is for string quartet and electronics, and will be performed by the Kleio String Quartet and Kurtág Jr. himself. A close friend of Ligeti, Kurtág Sr. is now in his late 90s and is still dedicated every day to music: the quartet will work on the piece with Kurtág before the performance, and it promises to be a truly special occasion.
Kleio Quartet. Photo by Matthew Johnson.
schedule 17th june
LIGETI HORN TRIO
1 - 2pm Holywell Music Room
Hans Abrahamsen Congratulation Greetings
Claude Debussy Violin Sonata
George Enescu Airs dans le genre roumain
György Ligeti Horn Trio
Ben Goldscheider, horn | Stephen Waarts, violin
Danny Driver, piano |Sebastian Black, piano
‘I prefer to follow a third way: being myself, without paying heed either to categorisations or to fashionable gadgetry.’
- György Ligeti
Audacious, rhythmic, and just a little bit apocalyptic, Ligeti’s Horn Trio is one of the great works of twentieth century chamber music. Composed in 1982, it marks a fascinating turning point in his musical style that opened a new, adventurous chapter in his later work.
To open the concert, we have chosen a beautiful, simple piece for solo horn by one of Ligeti’s most extraordinary students, the Danish composer Hans Abrahamsen. It is followed by Debussy’s late Violin Sonata - a quirky, effervescent piece, full of fun for our festival opening.
Waarts showed an uncommon, preternatural sense of tonal color and lyrical beauty on the instrument.
DANNY DRIVER RECITAL
4.30 - 5.30pm Holywell Music Room
Danny Driver, piano
Julian Anderson ‘She Hears’ from Sensation
Ligeti ‘Galamb Borong’ from Études Book II
Ligeti ‘Fém’ from Études Book II
Joshua Uzoigwe ‘Egwu Amala’ from Talking Drums
Deirdre McKay Ash
Julian Anderson ‘Toucher’ from Sensation
Ligeti ‘Cordes-à-Vide’ from Études Book I
Ligeti ‘Fanfares’ from Études Book I
Martin Suckling Etude: Orrery (UK premiere)
Thomas Adès Az ag (UK premiere)
Ligeti ‘L’éscalier du Diable’ from Études Book II
In this fascinating and complex recital, Danny Driver explores Ligeti’s Études, placing them alongside an intriguing selection of other miniatures for piano. Especially exciting is the opportunity to hear music by Joshua Uzoigwe, one of Nigeria’s most distinguished composers, and the UK premieres of new piano miniatures by Martin Suckling and Thomas Adès.
‘The challenge is “putting the emotional and evocative power of these pieces centre stage despite their intransigent virtuosity”. He manages to do that better than any of the other complete surveys of these pieces I’ve heard’ - The Guardian on Danny Driver’s recording of Ligeti’s Études
17th June
- The Washington Post
Danny Driver
Stephen Waarts
Ben Goldscheider
festival finale
17th June
7.30 - 9pm Chapter House, Christ Church
Ben Goldscheider, horn | Kleio Quartet | György Kurtág Jr, electronics
Laurence Osborn New work for solo horn (world premiere, commissioned by Smorgaschord)
György Kurtág Sr | György Kurtág Jr Zwiegespräch for string quartet and electronics
Laurence Osborn New work for solo horn (second performance)
Robert Schumann String Quartet in F major, Op. 41 No. 2
Closing the festival with an exciting bang, join us for György Kurtág’s collaboration with his son, Zwiegespräch. The performance sees Kurtág Jr join forces with the Kleio Quartet (‘a wonderfully dedicated group of musicians who bring assuredness and freshness to everything they play’ - Alina Ibragimova).
There’s also a chance to hear the world premiere of Smorgaschord’s 2023 commission from Laurence Osborn. The piece is written for the exceptional young horn player Ben Goldscheider, and, since it’s going to be so special, there’s an opportunity to hear the music not once, but twice.
To close, Schumann’s String Quartet No. 2: full of the jubilance of this wonderful, midsummer day.
Co-director Eliza Millett.
Photo by Emma Werner.
want to be involved? tickets
Tickets will be available for Friends & Patrons on 31 March. Tickets will be available for general booking on 7 April.
All seating is unreserved and will be on a first come, first served basis.
Passes & Tickets
Festival Pass | £30 | Student Pass | £10
Access to all events.
Individual tickets | £15 | Student tickets | £5
Or come drop by to just one event!
If using a student ticket, a valid student card must be shown upon entry.
Click here: https://www.smorgaschord.co.uk/support-us
Without the support of our wonderful Friends and Patrons we wouldn’t be able to put on anything at all. Ticket sales cover just a small fraction of our costs, and funding is getting harder and harder to receive.
If you’d love to become a part of the SmorgasChord family, you can help support our work in numerous ways:
- For £250 you can become a Friend, which will give you priority booking to the Festival as well as the opportunity to meet some of the artists at a drinks event at Smorgaschord 2023.
- If you’d like to help bring Danny Driver to SmorgasChord, you can donate £400 and your name will be credited with his in the programme, as well as in all our publicity.
- Or you can donate £500 to become a key part of the commission for Laurence Osborn’s new piece: your name acknowledged whenever the piece is played, as well as being printed in the front matter of the score.
Should you wish to donate another amount, do feel free to talk to us and we would be more than happy to find an option for you!
