Concerto Budapest Ligeti, Chigiana Academy of Music - Alessio Elia: Celestial Keys (2024)

Alessio Elia’s (b.1979) compositions are inspired by the acoustic nature of the sounding universe, its inner laws. Perhaps this is why, from the first moment of listening, these works feel organic natural and euphonic but also ordered, planned and clear.

The composition Celestial Keys, which lends its name to the whole album, does not claim to reveal universal truths in any sense, nor does it attempt to unlock a magic box containing deep secrets. As with the other works on the programme, Elia aims to demonstrate that the world is perhaps wider for perception than for reason.

He reveals that each of these compositions represents ‘an exploration of other dimensions.

In Luminescences, we encounter the phenomenon of light; in Disappearing Rainbows, we explore the residual traces of colours. Dimensioni nascoste delves into the extra, hidden dimensions of string theory. Implicate Inklings unveils the implicate order of the holographic theory of the universe. Finally, Celestial keys transports us to the realm of angels and the supernatural.’

Several of these works feature Elia’s signature compositional approach: Polysystemism, which involves the simultaneous use of different tuning systems.

Recordings date from August 2005 (Siena), September 2013, October 2015, May 2019 and November 2023 (Budapest). All works are given in their First Recordings.

Booklet in English contains liner notes by Szabolcs Molnár, profiles of the composer, the conductors, the soloists, the orchestras and ensembles, as wel as the sung text for Celestial keys.

Marco Ortolani, clarinet
Concerto Budapest Ligeti Ensemble
László Tihanyi, conductor
Chigiana Academy of Music Ensemble
Mauro Bonifacio, conductor
The National Hungarian Radio Orchestra
Gergely Vajda, conductor
Csaba Klenyán, clarinet
Concerto Budapest Orchestra
Zoltán Rácz, conductor
Márta Murányi, soprano
Judit Szathmáry soprano

TRACKLIST

1. Concerto Budapest Ligeti, Chigiana Academy of Music, The National Hungarian Radio Orchestra, Concerto Budapest Orchestra - Elia: Luminescences (2005)
2. Concerto Budapest Ligeti, Chigiana Academy of Music, The National Hungarian Radio Orchestra, Concerto Budapest Orchestra - Elia: Disappearing Rainbows (2015)
3. Concerto Budapest Ligeti, Chigiana Academy of Music, The National Hungarian Radio Orchestra, Concerto Budapest Orchestra - Elia: Dimensioni nascoste (2013)
4. Concerto Budapest Ligeti, Chigiana Academy of Music, The National Hungarian Radio Orchestra, Concerto Budapest Orchestra - Elia: Implicate Inklings Clarinet Concerto (2018-19)
5. Concerto Budapest Ligeti, Chigiana Academy of Music, The National Hungarian Radio Orchestra, Concerto Budapest Orchestra - Elia: Celestial Keys (2023)