Play like a dog biting God's feet': Steven Isserlis on the formidable Gyorgy Kurtag at 100

"I was immediately struck by his magnetic intensity, his fierce passion for music and his unique way of speaking English—punctuated by frequent utterances of er-er-er. Many years later, Kurtag was to tell me: 'Stuttering is my natural mode of expression.' He and Marta simply embodied—he still embodies—music. I had never met anyone to whom each note mattered so much."

"It was then that I understood that I had understood absolutely nothing! He took me through the piece note by note, explaining, singing, demanding, creating visions and weaving a spell of emotional profundity that was a revelation. Animals often figure in his teaching. I have notes telling myself to play like the neighing of a horse', like a snake', and like a dog biting God's feet'"

A cellist recalls meeting composer Gyorgy Kurtag at an international music seminar in Cornwall approximately 40 years ago. Kurtag approached with magnetic intensity and fervent passion, immediately engaging in conversation about the cellist's previous performance. Accompanied by his wife Marta, Kurtag embodied music itself, treating each note with exceptional significance. When asked to perform Kurtag's solo cello piece "Gerard de Nerval," the cellist initially misunderstood the work entirely. Through detailed instruction, Kurtag revealed layers of emotional profundity through note-by-note analysis, singing, and vivid imagery. His teaching incorporated animal metaphors to guide interpretation, demanding musicians achieve specific expressive qualities. This transformative encounter established an ongoing relationship where the cellist performed for Kurtag regularly.

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