Together with the SWR Vocal Ensemble and KlangForum Heidelberg e. V., the Classic Scouts delved into the fascinating soundscape of composer György Ligeti as part of the 2023 Musikfestival.

The “Audio Experience” they created includes 9 audio files featuring interviews with musicians who performed at the 2023 Musikfestival, audio samples, and their personal perspectives on one of the most original and technically demanding composers of the past century. The “Audio Experience” invited the audience to delve deeper into the concerts of the “Ligeti 100” focus at the 2023 Musikfestival, both online and in person.

Hörerlebniswelt

What do young people feel when they hear music by Ligeti for the first time?

Ligeti's life and work against the backdrop of the turbulent social and political developments of his time

Ligeti's "Volumina"

Listening impressions and favorite parts

Conversation with organist Markus Uhl

Ligeti's concerto for violin and orchestra

Listening impressions and favorite parts

Ligeti's 2nd String Quartet

Listening impressions and favorite parts

A conversation with Léo Marillier of the French string quartet Quatuor Diotima about rehearsing the piece

Ligeti's "Lux aeterna"

Listening impressions and favorite parts

Interview with soprano Sarah M. Newman from Klangforum Heidelberg

About the project

Music & Images
In the first phase, as part of the SWR Vocal Ensemble’s “Music and Images” project, the Classic Scouts explored the connection between music and visual art in Ligeti’s work. At the heart of this project for this year’s ARD Week of Music is the timbral compositional style in the famous vocal piece “Lux Aeterna” (Eternal Light). But the composer’s spectacular life story, set against the backdrop of the turbulent social and political developments of his time, also provides ample material for in-depth exploration.

The videos created by the young people themselves in the project were presented to the public as a cinematic work of art by all participants at the SWR Vokalensemble concert on March 21, 2023 at Garage 229 in Stuttgart-Ost.

Scouting Ligeti
How does Ligeti's music affect us? What approaches open up in the experience of his music - in direct listening as well as in closer study of the composer? And what personal insights do the performing artists give us?

These questions were at the heart of the second phase of the project, carried out in collaboration with KlangForum Heidelberg e. V. Under the artistic direction of Nelly Sautter and Magdalena Erhard, the Classic Scouts are engaging intensively with various works featured in the Ligeti 100 Festival program, as well as with Ligeti as an extraordinary personality. From solo concerts to organ and string quartet music to the vocal music in the KlangForum’s programme—they reflect on their listening experiences, talk with artists, and thus develop their own individual approaches to Ligeti’s music.

The result: a digital audio experience—for the audience of the 2023 Heidelberger Frühling Musikfestival and anyone who would like to explore Ligeti’s music, whether in person or from home.

Various audio files with general as well as programme-specific content are available on the website. There were also QR codes at each concert venue for direct access.

The Live Moment: At the KlangForum Heidelberg concert on April 5, 2023, at St. Paul’s Parish Church in Boxberg, the Creative Engagement program of the Classic Scouts was also on display as part of a special prelude to the concert.

The project participants included Liam Dammert, Lisa Köhnle, Lukas Herrera, Selma Krauße, Jakob Gierok, Moritz Pfister, Luis Miehlich, Mariela Rogic, Laurenz Hambrecht, Elisa Stepanski, Yunhe Liang and Joseph Noble.