Kurtág: Fin de Partie

This gloomy scenario was depicted by Nobel laureate in Literature Samuel Beckett (»Waiting for Godot«) in his drama »Fin de partie« (Endgame). For more than 50 years, the Hungarian composer György Kurtág had the idea of making an opera out of it – and he finally brought it to the stage of La Scala in Milan in 2018. Both in the critics’ poll of the magazine Opernwelt and at the International Opera Awards, »Fin de partie« was subsequently voted premiere of the year. The NZZ writes: »Kurtág has found an operatic style all his own that is deeply rooted in his oeuvre; the music really adds something to the text. Ultimately, the characters gain depth and come to life – even though they actually want to die all the time.«

György Kurtág’s music comes alive through small but expressive movements that solidify into fascinating structures. With a large orchestra and his minimalist tonal language, he congenially transfers Samuel Beckett’s terse linguistic style to music. »Both have mastered the art of saying a great deal with very few notes or words,« enthuses Markus Stenz, the conductor of the world premiere. Now he brings the opera to the Elbphilharmonie in a semi-staged version, together with the critically acclaimed singers that performed in the opera’s premiere.