Barbara Hannigan has become inseparable from Ligeti’s Mysteries of the Macabre – the dramatically theatrical scene from the opera Le Grand Macabre, reimagined for the concert stage. Her fearless combination of razor-sharp virtuosity, physical comedy and total dramatic dedication transformed the piece into a modern classic. Filmed performances have travelled far beyond concert halls, attracting 100,000 views and introducing a new audience to György Ligeti’s wild fantasy.
The opera, which Ligeti composed with a premiere in Stockholm in 1978, was a farce about the end of the world. Now, more than a decade after the first performance in Gothenburg, Hannigan returns for this signature role at a unique concert event. It is a way to mark and celebrate her deep artistic relationship with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.
This evening, Barbara Hannigan takes us on more bizarre adventures. To begin, we travel to an enchanted lake to the romantic sounds of Liadov, before seeker Claude Vivier depicts mysteries of the outer limits of the universe.
Béla Bartók’s raw story, The Miraculous Mandarin, explores the power of human passion. It is filled with a fierce and erotically charged atmosphere. Striking, barbaric rhythms and dissonance generate a frightening effect. But Bartók also had space for humour: coquettish clarinet solos and flirtatious trombones are heard during the seduction scenes.
Needless to say the premiere in 1926 was a scandal.
Come closer
Have a seat in the Great Hall an hour before the concert and let the introduction open the door to the stories behind the works, facts about the composers and personal reflections. The introduction is included in your ticket, lasts about 30 minutes and has free seating in the hall.
