In a conversation with the violinist Peter Herresthal, we touched on the "invitation" in the score of Ligeti's Violin concerto to provide a cadenza for the work. Peter suggested that I answer this invitation and I was happy to accept. I followed all the composer's directions exactly: the cadenza may use material from all five movements, and should be of "hectic" character throughout. I also aimed to write a cadenza of which the closing orchestral coda would be an inevitable result. (Thomas Ades)

The cadenza can also be composed by the soloist and can last up to 1-2 minutes. It should be hectic throughout (continuation of the appassionata agitato molto), but can incorporate melodic material ad lib. from all five movements. Towards the end, the tempo should be prestissimo with alternating arco and left hand pizz. in mad virtuosity. The cadenza has no real end and is suddenly interrupted by the orchestra at R (as agreed between soloist and conductor). This interruption occurs suddenly as if unprepared. The soloist should at this point be playing in high positions (on the top string) at maximum velocity. The solo violin abruptly falls silent on the entry of the high woodblock. Gyorgy Ligeti

The volume unites 11 cadenzas from 200 years of music history to form one of the most frequently performed concertos in the piano literature, including several first publications. Among them are not solely highly virtuoso and, sometimes, even romantic lyrical tributes to the genius of classical music, but also cadences with a humorous and ironic touch: Fazil Say's cadence imitated - a music box!
With cadences by: Charles Henri Alkan - Ludwig van Beethoven - Gabriel Faure - Franz Liszt - Ignaz Moscheles - Michael Rische - Fazil Say - Erwin Schulhoff - Clara Schumann - Bedrich Smetana - Viktor Ullmann.