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Star pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard presents an anthology from Gyorgy Kurtag's Jatekok (Games), recorded in the composer's presence and under his artistic guidance. In his extensive series of Jatekok, Kurtag realizes the spontaneity of a child exploring the piano with the compositional means of his adventurous, avant-garde idiom. Recording such an extensive collection of Jatekok is an important statement for Aimard, who has developed an intimate artistic friendship with the composer over decades. A renowned champion of twentieth-century music, Pierre-Laurent Aimard has released multiple acclaimed albums in his exclusive contract with PENTATONE, including Messiaen's Catalogue d'Oiseaux (2018) and Visions de l'Amen (2022), along with Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata & Eroica Variations (2021). He also joined Tamara Stefanovich in Etudes and Frames (2023), with music by Vassos Nicolaou, and recorded Bartok's Piano Concertos with the San Francisco Symphony and Esa-Pekka Salonen (2023). The miniature nature of Kurtag's Jatekok makes them an unexpected, yet logical successor of Aimard's acclaimed album Schubert Landler (2024), which consisted of dances that the pianist often combines with Kurtag's short pieces in live performances. Album Tracks 1. Játékok~Book I. 1b. Prelude and Waltz in C 2. Játékok~Book I. 3a. Flowers We Are, Frail Flowers 3. Játékok~Book I. 3b. Flowers We Are, Frail Flowers 4. Játékok~Book I. 9a. The Bunny and the Fox 5. Játékok~Book I. 17a. Falling Asleep 6. Játékok~Book I. 17b. Flowers We Are 7. Játékok~Book II. 2. Hommage à Jeney (Phone numbers of our loved ones 1) 8. Játékok~Book II. 4. Hommage a Vidovszky (Phone numbers of our loved ones 2) 9. Játékok~Book II. 5. Quarrelling 10. Játékok~Book II. 28. Fifths (3) 11. Játékok~Book II. 29. (bunny rabbit in the grass) 12. Játékok~Book II. 43. Antiphony in f-sharp 13. Játékok~B
