Review: Ligeti’s Requiem with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam

It is an absolutely extraordinary experience to hear the work live, it was one of the most beautiful – but at the same time the most terrifying – pieces of music I have ever heard in a concert hall. From the opening notes onwards Ligeti creates an atmosphere of anxiety, an atmosphere that is overwhelmingly intense and captivating. In the Dies irae, soloists Jane Archibald and Allyson McHardy both shone in their roles with plenty of vocal acrobatics, McHardy being particularly impressive with her warm sound.” (Bachtrack, 28 September) Read the full review on the Bachtrack website.