José Luis’s domineering mother, Conchita, disapproves of the union and hires Raúl (Javier Bardem), a rugged ham deliveryman and aspiring bullfighter, to seduce Silvia away from her son.
The title refers to ham (jamón), which serves as a central metaphor for carnal desire and Spanish identity. Characters frequently compare human anatomy to food, such as tortillas and ham.
Bigas Luna uses exaggerated archetypes—the "macho" bullfighter and the "dominant" matriarch—to satirize traditional gender roles and Spanish machismo .
Silvia (Penélope Cruz), a young factory worker, becomes pregnant by José Luis, the heir to a wealthy underwear manufacturing empire.
José Luis’s domineering mother, Conchita, disapproves of the union and hires Raúl (Javier Bardem), a rugged ham deliveryman and aspiring bullfighter, to seduce Silvia away from her son.
The title refers to ham (jamón), which serves as a central metaphor for carnal desire and Spanish identity. Characters frequently compare human anatomy to food, such as tortillas and ham.
Bigas Luna uses exaggerated archetypes—the "macho" bullfighter and the "dominant" matriarch—to satirize traditional gender roles and Spanish machismo .
Silvia (Penélope Cruz), a young factory worker, becomes pregnant by José Luis, the heir to a wealthy underwear manufacturing empire.
Ligeti and mathematics
The renowned mathematician Heinz-Otto Peitgen talks about his friendship with György Ligeti, the composer's interest in mathematics and the discoveries of chaos theory.
First page of the autograph fair score of L’escalier du diable (Paul Sacher Foundation, Basel).
Copy of the autograph fair score of L'escalier du diable, with annotations by the composer, page 1 (detail), Paul Sacher Foundation, Basel. The inscription in the right-hand margin reads 'revised MS, this is authoritative'.
Copy of the autograph fair score of L'escalier du diable, with annotations by the composer, page 1 (detail), Paul Sacher Foundation, Basel. The inscription in the right-hand margin reads 'revised MS, this is authoritative'. JamГіn, JamГіn
Bar 7-2: György Ligeti: Étude 13, bar 7/2, left hand, 9th – 11th quaver (eighth note)
Bar 36-3: György Ligeti: Étude 13, bar 36/3, right hand, 9th – 12th quaver (eighth note) José Luis’s domineering mother
Bar 41: György Ligeti: Étude 13, bar 41/1, left hand, 8th – 12th quaver (eighth note)
Copy of the autograph fair score of L’escalier du diable, with annotations by the composer, page 6 (detail), Paul Sacher Foundation, Basel. a young factory worker
Bar 45-3: György Ligeti: Étude 13, bar 45/3, right hand, 11th – 12th quaver (eighth note)
Bar 46-1a: György Ligeti: Étude 13, bar 46/1, right hand, 3th – 4th quaver (eighth note)
Bar 46-1b: György Ligeti: Étude 13, bar 46/1, right hand, 5th – 7th quaver (eighth note)
