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Debussy's Images

Cellist Nicolas Altstaedt and pianist Dénes Várjon join The Hallé for Kurtág's Double Concerto, before Thomas Adès conducts his own work Lieux retrouvés and Debussy's vivid Images.

Thomas Adès conducts The Hallé in Debussy's Images - a colourful triptych of orchestral canvases - and his own equally atmospheric work Lieux retrouvés, which started life as a duo for cello and piano. That pairing combines as the solo instruments of György Kurtág's Double Concerto, for which the orchestra is joined tonight by pianist Dénes Várjon and cellist Nicolas Altstaedt (who also takes the solo role in Lieux retrouvés). The concert begins on a mysterious note with Charles Ives' evocative orchestral piece The Unanswered Question.

Presented by Tom McKinney. Recorded at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Thursday 23rd April 2026.

Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question
György Kurtág: The Answered unanswered question (Ligatura-message to Frances-Marie)
György Kurtág: Double Concerto Op. 27 No. 2 for piano, cello and two chamber ensembles
Thomas Adès: Lieux retrouvés (version for orchestra)
Claude Debussy: Images for orchestra

Nicolas Altstaedt (cello)
Dénes Várjon (piano)
The Hallé
Thomas Adès (conductor)

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2 hours, 14 minutes

Last on

Thu 30 Apr 202619:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Charles Ives

    The Unanswered Question

    Orchestra: The Halle. Conductor: Thomas Adès.

  • György Kurtág

    The answered unanswered question (Ligatura-Message to Frances-Marie), Op. 31b

    Orchestra: The Halle. Conductor: Thomas Adès.

  • György Kurtág

    Double Concerto Op 27 No 2 for piano, cello and two chamber ensembles

    Performer: Nicolas Altstaedt. Performer: Dénes Várjon. Orchestra: The Halle. Conductor: Thomas Adès.

  • György Kurtág

    Játékok III: Harmonica (Hommage à Borsody László)

    Performer: Márta Kurtág.
    • Kurtág, Bach: Játékok.
    • ECM New Series.
    • 21.

  • György Kurtág

    Játékok II: Bluebell

    Performer: Márta Kurtág.
    • Kurtág, Bach: Játékok.
    • ECM New Series.
    • 18.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sonatina from Cantata 106 'Actus tragicus' (arr. Kurtag for Piano 4 Hands)

    Performer: Márta Kurtág. Performer: György Kurtág. Music Arranger: György Kurtág.
    • Kurtág, Bach: Játékok.
    • ECM New Series.
    • 13.

  • György Kurtág

    Játékok III: Hommage à Christian Wolff (Half-Asleep)

    Performer: György Kurtág.
    • Kurtág, Bach: Játékok.
    • ECM New Series.
    • 7.

  • György Kurtág

    Játékok III: Hommage à Kurtág Márta

    Performer: Márta Kurtág.
    • Kurtág, Bach: Játékok.
    • ECM New Series.
    • 28.

  • Thomas Adès

    Lieux Retrouvés (vers. for cello and orchestra)

    Orchestra: Halle. Conductor: Thomas Adès.

  • Claude Debussy

    Images for orchestra

    Orchestra: The Halle. Conductor: Thomas Adès.

  • Edward Elgar

    Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 82

    Performer: Hana Chang. Performer: Jonathan Ware.

Broadcast

  • Thu 30 Apr 202619:30
    BBC Radio 3