Stele (Kurtág)

Stele, Op. 33, sometimes also stylised in Greek capitals as ΣΤΉΛΗ (stēlē), is a composition for orchestra by Hungarian composer György Kurtág. It was completed in 1994.

Composition

The composition was first conceived as a work for piano in 1993, which was dedicated to András Mihály. However, Kurtág completed the score for orchestra under the commission of the Berlin Philharmonic in 1994, while he was the composer-in-residence for the orchestra. The piece was first premiered in Berlin, on 14 December 1994, by the Berlin Philharmonic under Claudio Abbado, both of these being the dedicatees. It was published later in 2003 by Editio Musica Budapest.

Structure

Stele is in three movements and takes up to thirteen minutes to perform. The three movements are kept untitled and are usually named by their tempo. All of the movements are meant to be played attacca. The movement list is as follows: