Upcoming Performances & Anniversaries
György Ligeti
born: 05/28/1923
died: 06/12/2006
nationality: Hungary
Upcoming:
Six Bagatelles
09/07/2008 | Lukaskirche - Luzern - Switzerland
Sonata
09/09/2008 | Musikgymnasium Schloss Belvedere - Weimar - Germany
Chronology
1923
Born 28 May in Dicsőszentmárton (now called Târnǎveni), Transylvania (Romania)
1941
Graduate from secondary school in Klausenburg (Transylvania)
1941
Study of composition with Ferenc Farkas at the Klausenburg Conservatory
1942
in between: studies with Pál Kadosa in Budapest
1945
Studies with Sándor Veress, Pál Járdányi, Ferenc Farkas and Lajos Bárdos at the Budapest Academy of Music
1946
"3 Songs" after Sandor Weöres
1950
Lecturer at the Budapest Academy of Music
1950
"Musica Ricercata" for piano
1953
"six Bagatelles" for wind quintet
1953
String Quartet no.1: "Métarmorphoses nocturnes"
1955
A cappella choral music: " Night" and "Morning"
1956
Flees to Austria after the uprising in Hungary
1957
Free-lance work at the studio for electronic music of the West German Radio in Cologne
1958
"Artikulation", electronic composition
1958
"Apparitions" for orchestra
1959
Residence in Vienna
1959-1972
Lecturer at the Darmstadt Music Courses
1960
World première of "Apparitions" on the occasion of the ISCM Festival in Cologne
1961
Visiting professor at the Stockholm Music Academy
1961
Composition course in Madrid
"Atmosphères" for large orchestra
"Atmosphères" for large orchestra
1961
"Volumina" for organ
1962
Composition course th the Gaudeamus Foundation in Bilthoven (Netherlands)
"Poème Symphonique" for 100 metronomes
"Adventures" for 3 singers and 7 instrumentalists
"Poème Symphonique" for 100 metronomes
"Adventures" for 3 singers and 7 instrumentalists
1962
"Nouvelles Adventures" for 3 singers and 7 instrumentalists
1963
Composition course in Bilthoven and at the Folkwangschule in Essen (Germany)
1963
"Requiem"
1964
Composition course at the Folkwangschule in Essen (Germany) and in Jyväskylä (Finnland)
1st prize in the Composition Competition organized by the Internatioinal Society for Contemporary Music, Rome, for "Apparations"
Member of the Swedish Academy of Music, Stockholm
1st prize in the Composition Competition organized by the Internatioinal Society for Contemporary Music, Rome, for "Apparations"
Member of the Swedish Academy of Music, Stockholm
1965
Composition course in Jyväskylä
Prize ot the Koussevitzky Foundation, Washington
Prize ot the Koussevitzky Foundation, Washington
1966
"Lux aeterna" for 16-part mixed choir a cappella
"Concerto for Cello and Orchestra"
Scenic version of "Adventures" and "Nouvelles Adventures"
1st prize in the Composition Competition of the International Society for Contemporary Music, Rome, for "Requiem"
"Concerto for Cello and Orchestra"
Scenic version of "Adventures" and "Nouvelles Adventures"
1st prize in the Composition Competition of the International Society for Contemporary Music, Rome, for "Requiem"
1967
"Lontano" for large orchestra-beginning of the collaboration with Schott
First study for organ: "Hamonics"
becomes an Austrian citizen
Beethoven Prize of the City of Bonn for "Requiem"
Medal of Honor awarded by the University of Helsinki
First study for organ: "Hamonics"
becomes an Austrian citizen
Beethoven Prize of the City of Bonn for "Requiem"
Medal of Honor awarded by the University of Helsinki
1968
"Continuum" for harpsichord
"String Quartet no.2"
"ten Pieces" for wind quintet
Member of the Akademie der Künste, Berlin
"String Quartet no.2"
"ten Pieces" for wind quintet
Member of the Akademie der Künste, Berlin
1968
"Ramifications" für string orchestra or 12 solo strings
1969
Resindence in Berlin and Vienna
1969
Scholarship of the German Academic Axchange Organization (DAAD), Berlin
1969
Second study for organ "Coulée"
Honorary Member of the Musikverein für die Steiermark
1st prize in the International UNESCO Competition for "Lontano"
Honorary Member of the Musikverein für die Steiermark
1st prize in the International UNESCO Competition for "Lontano"
1969
"Chamber Concerto" for 13 instrumentalists
1971
"Melodien" for orchestra
Member of the Freie Akademie der Künste, Hamburg
Member of the Freie Akademie der Künste, Hamburg
1972
"Double Concerto" for flute, oboe and orchestra
Composer in residence at Stanford University, California
Berliner Kunstpreis (awarded by the Academy der Künste, Berlin)
Composer in residence at Stanford University, California
Berliner Kunstpreis (awarded by the Academy der Künste, Berlin)
1972
"Clocks and Clouds" for 12-part female choir and orchestra
1973
Professor at the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst Hamburg
1973
Residence in Hamburg and Vienna
1973
Composition course at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood (Massachusetts)
1973
"San Francisco Polyphony" for orchestra
1974
Composition Course at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena
1974
"Le Grand Macabre", opera in 2 acts (4 scenes)
1975
Member of the Orden Pour le mérite for Sciences and Arts, Bonn
Bach Prize awarded by the City of Hamburg
Bach Prize awarded by the City of Hamburg
1976
"Monument, Selbstportrait, Bewegung", 3 pieces for 2 pianos
1978
"Hungarian Rock" for harpsichord
"Passacaglia ungherese" for harpsichord
"Passacaglia ungherese" for harpsichord
1978
12 April: World premier of "Le Grand Macabre" in Stockholm
15 October: First German performance of "Le Grand Macabre" in Hamburg
Member of the Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste, Munich
15 October: First German performance of "Le Grand Macabre" in Hamburg
Member of the Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste, Munich
1979
First Italian performance of "Le Grand Macabre" in Bologna
Composition course in Aix-en-Provence
Composition course in Aix-en-Provence
1981
First French performance of "Le Grand Macabre" in Paris
1982
"Trio" for violin, horn and piano
"Drei Phantasien" for 16-part mixed choir a cappella
First English performance of "Le Grand Macabre" at the English National Opera in London
1983
"Magyar Etüdök" (Hungarian studies) for 16-part choir a cappella
1984
Honorary Member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters
Prix Ravel, Paris
Béla Bartók-Ditta Pásztory Prize, Budapest
Honorary Member of th International Society for New Music
Prix Ravel, Paris
Béla Bartók-Ditta Pásztory Prize, Budapest
Honorary Member of th International Society for New Music
1985
"Etudes pour piano" premier livre
Prix Arthur Honegger - Chevillion Bonnaud, Paris
Prix Arthur Honegger - Chevillion Bonnaud, Paris
1985
"Concerto for Piano and Orchestra"
1986
Grawemeyer Award, Louisville (Kentucky)
1987
Honorary Distinction for Science and Arts (Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst) of the Republic of Austria
Honorary Ring (Ehrenring) of the City of Vienna
Honorary Ring (Ehrenring) of the City of Vienna
1988
"Nonsense Madrigals" Nr. 1-4 für 6stimmigen Chor a cappella
Honorary doctorate of the University of Hamburg
Commandeur in the Ordre National des Arts et Lettres, Paris
Composition Prize of the Foundation Prince Pierre de Monaco
Honorary doctorate of the University of Hamburg
Commandeur in the Ordre National des Arts et Lettres, Paris
Composition Prize of the Foundation Prince Pierre de Monaco
1989
"Etudes pour piano" deuxième livre, Nr. 7 und 8
"Nonsense Madrigals" Nr.5
Honorary Member of the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst of Graz
"Nonsense Madrigals" Nr.5
Honorary Member of the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst of Graz
1990
"Etudes pour piano" deuxième livre, Nr. 9
"Concerto for violin and orchestra" 1st version (three movements)
Honorary Member of the Freie Academy der Künste of Hamburg
Honorary Member of the Austrian Association of Composers
Goethe-Medal of the Goethe Institute in Munich
The "Leonie Sonnings" Musik Prize, Copenhagen
Honorary Member of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rom
Grand Austrian State Prize (Großer Österreichischer Staatspreis)
Member of the Austrian Art Senate (Österreichischen Kunstsenats)
Corresponding Member of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes, Granada
"Concerto for violin and orchestra" 1st version (three movements)
Honorary Member of the Freie Academy der Künste of Hamburg
Honorary Member of the Austrian Association of Composers
Goethe-Medal of the Goethe Institute in Munich
The "Leonie Sonnings" Musik Prize, Copenhagen
Honorary Member of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rom
Grand Austrian State Prize (Großer Österreichischer Staatspreis)
Member of the Austrian Art Senate (Österreichischen Kunstsenats)
Corresponding Member of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes, Granada
1991
"Loop" for viola solo
Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society, London
Praemium Imperiale, Tokyo
Music Prize of the Balzan Foundation, Bern-Milan
Honorary Member of the Royal Philharmonic Society, London
Praemium Imperiale, Tokyo
Music Prize of the Balzan Foundation, Bern-Milan
1992
"Concerto for violin and orchestra" final version
"Fascar" for viola solo
Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music, London
Member of the Hungarian Academy for Literature and Art (Széchenyi Iroldami és Mûvézsti Akadémia)
"Fascar" for viola solo
Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music, London
Member of the Hungarian Academy for Literature and Art (Széchenyi Iroldami és Mûvézsti Akadémia)
1993
"Etudes pour piano" deuxième livre, Nr.12-14 A
"Nonsense Madrigals" Nr.6
Honorary Doctorate of the New England Conservatory, Boston
Music Prize of the Siemens Foundation
Music Prize of the Kaske Foundation
Middle Cross of the Destinguished Service Medal of the Hungarian Republic ( A magyar köztásasági Erdemrend középkeresztje)
Prize of the City of Vienna
Full Member of the european Academy of Sciences and Arts (Academia Scientarium et Artium Europae)
"Nonsense Madrigals" Nr.6
Honorary Doctorate of the New England Conservatory, Boston
Music Prize of the Siemens Foundation
Music Prize of the Kaske Foundation
Middle Cross of the Destinguished Service Medal of the Hungarian Republic ( A magyar köztásasági Erdemrend középkeresztje)
Prize of the City of Vienna
Full Member of the european Academy of Sciences and Arts (Academia Scientarium et Artium Europae)
1994
"Sonata for viola solo"
"Etudes pour piano" deuxième livre, Nr.10 und 11
Member of the Club of Budapest
"Etudes pour piano" deuxième livre, Nr.10 und 11
Member of the Club of Budapest
1995
"Etudes pour piano" troisième livre, Nr.15
Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The "Rolf Schock" Music Prize of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The "Rolf Schock" Music Prize of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
1996
"Pièce électronique No.3" (1957/58, 1996)
"Le Grand Macabre" new version
Music Prize of the Wolf Foundation Jerusalem
UNESCO-IMC (International Music Council)-Music Prize
"Associé étranger" of the Académie Royale de Belgique
"Le Grand Macabre" new version
Music Prize of the Wolf Foundation Jerusalem
UNESCO-IMC (International Music Council)-Music Prize
"Associé étranger" of the Académie Royale de Belgique
1997
World première of the new version of "Le Grand Macabre" in Salzburg
"Etudes pour piano" troisième livre, Nr.16
Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy (Academia Românǎ)
"Etudes pour piano" troisième livre, Nr.16
Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy (Academia Românǎ)
1998
"Etudes pour piano" troisième livre, Nr.17
"Associé étranger" of the Académie des Beaux Arts, Paris
"Associé étranger" of the Académie des Beaux Arts, Paris
1998
"Hamburgisches ´Konzert" for horn and chamber orchestra
2000
"Síppal, doppal, nádihegedűvel" for mezzo-soprano and four percussionists
Sibelius Medal of the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, Helsinki
Commandeur de l´Ordre de Mérite Culturel de Monaco
Sibelius Medal of the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, Helsinki
Commandeur de l´Ordre de Mérite Culturel de Monaco
2001
"Etudes pour piano" troisième livre, Nr.18
"The Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award for Achievement during 2000 for the Chamber-Scale Composition category" for "Síppal, doppal, nádihegedűvel"
Kyoto Prize of the Inamori Foundation
"The Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award for Achievement during 2000 for the Chamber-Scale Composition category" for "Síppal, doppal, nádihegedűvel"
Kyoto Prize of the Inamori Foundation
2003
Theodor W. Adorno Prize of the City of Frankfurt
Medal of Arts and Sciences of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
Kossuth Prize of the Hungarian State
Honorary Member of the Konzerthausgesellschaft of Vienna
Grand Prix du Président de la République of the Académie
Charles Cros
Medal of Arts and Sciences of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
Kossuth Prize of the Hungarian State
Honorary Member of the Konzerthausgesellschaft of Vienna
Grand Prix du Président de la République of the Académie
Charles Cros
2004
Polar Music Prize of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in Stockholm
2005
Frankfurter Musikpreis 2005
2006
Dies on 12 June and is buried at the Vienna Central Cemetery (honorary grave).
