Once, in London, the BBC asked me what was my favorite English book. I said Alice in Wonderland Gyorgy Ligeti More Quotes by Gyorgy Ligeti More Quotes From Gyorgy Ligeti In my piano concerto I developed this polyphony to much higher complexity Gyorgy Ligeti polyphony complexity piano There was a very famous musician in our family. He was a great violinist, an internationally known teacher. He was Leopold Auer. Gyorgy Ligeti very-famous musician teacher I don't use old music. Gyorgy Ligeti old-music use In January 1944 I was called up by the Forced Labor Service, but I deserted on October 10, 1944. Gyorgy Ligeti january october labor I was fifteen years old, and I hardly knew how to play a simple Bach prelude on the piano when I began to compose music, and at the most advanced level. I had never studied such things as harmony. Gyorgy Ligeti simple play years For the past ten years I have had no financial problems. Gyorgy Ligeti financial-problems past years People often thought Leopold Auer was Russian because he lived in St. Petersburg so long, almost fifty years. Gyorgy Ligeti long people years My grandfather was not a musician but he was an artist - a painter, a decorative painter. Gyorgy Ligeti musician artist grandfather But I do not want to use Hungarian verses for British people. Gyorgy Ligeti use want people However, I began composing as soon as I started taking piano lessons. Gyorgy Ligeti composing piano lessons I listen to all kinds of music - new music, old music, music of my colleagues, everything. Gyorgy Ligeti new-music colleagues kind I lived under the Nazis and under the Communists. Gyorgy Ligeti communist nazi Gesualdo was very important to me, I wanted to do something which corresponded to him. Gyorgy Ligeti something him me important If you come from Paris to Budapest you think you are in Moscow. Gyorgy Ligeti come think you paris Steinberg is great. I should like to meet him. Gyorgy Ligeti meet him great like