Adriana Hölszky: Wie ein Gläsernes Meer, mit Feuer Gemischt . . .

Adriana Höszky Wei ein gläsernes Meer, mit Feuer gemischt . . .
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Artist: Dominik Susteck, Jens Brüls, Sabine Akiko Ahrendt, Adriana Hölszky
Genre: Classical
Label: Wergo

The works here by Bucharest-born Adriana Hölszky range over three decades: . . . und wieder Dunkel I (1985-90) for percussion (Jens Brüls) and organ; . . . und ich sah we ein gläsernes Meer, mid Feuer gemischt . . . (1996-97) for organ solo; and Efeu und Lichtfeld (2008) for violin (Sabine Akiko Ahrendt) and organ. The decade that comes to mind, however, is the 1960s, with the avant-garde repertoire of the experimental organist Gerd Zacher (who died in June) the most obvious reference. The piece with percussion takes inspiration from Gottfried Benn's poem Ein Wort, and part of that text – "A word – a glow, a flight, a fire/a burst of flame, a streak of stars" – nicely suggests the unpredictability of this sometimes ambling, sometimes giddy music. wergo.de

Michael Dervan

Michael Dervan

Michael Dervan is a music critic and Irish Times contributor