

On the happy occasion of the New York premiere of Le Grand Macabre, here is an audio clip of Ligeti singing a bit of Dido's Lament, from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. It comes from a talk that Ligeti gave at the New England Conservatory on March 10, 1993. I was present for the occasion; Ligeti's brilliant meditations on the figure of the lament through musical history inspired the second chapter of my forthcoming book. I'd like to thank the NEC for giving me permission to use the clip (and for inviting me to speak at their commencement last weekend, with none other than Dr. Quincy Jones in attendance).

Indeed, singing was not among Ligeti's myriad gifts. Here is the real deal, from the great Dido of our age:

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, with Nicholas McGegan conducting the Philharmonia Baroque; Harmonia Mundi 907110.