Monologe 2 Pianos 4 Hands

In January 1964 Bernd Alois Zimmermann interrupted the completion of his opera Die Soldaten [The Soldiers] in order to rearrange his orchestral work Dialoge for two pianos. Monologe takes up the original material but develops it towards a different direction: Zimmermann's collage technique based on quotations extends over the entire musical setting so that it is not only Mozart (Piano Concerto in C major KV 467) who has his say but Beethoven, Messiaen and Bach as well. “Monologe is a piece for two pianists; real monologues of these pianists who, though simultaneously, [...] do not always play at the same time”; [...] losing themselves in their own thoughts“, as it were.” –Zimmermann