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Pierre Boulez at 90

Mar. 04, 2015

Pierre Boulez at 90

We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Pierre Boulez as he celebrates his 90th birthday on March 26. One of the most groundbreaking and revered musicians of our time, Boulez’s contributions as composer, conductor, writer and thinker continue to expand the limits of contemporary music and leave an enduring mark on the world.

Born in 1925, Pierre Boulez studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Olivier Messiaen and privately with René Leibowitz. He first came to prominence in the 1940s with his two piano sonatas and his Livre pour quatuor for string quartet. He began to conduct in the 1950s, firstly to achieve authoritative performances of his own music, but soon established himself as a conductor in his own right, with an ability to read, hear, analyze and assemble performances of a standard hitherto unrealized, notably of music of the second Viennese school and beyond.

Several performances are scheduled throughout the year in honor of the composer's 90th birthday, with many major events planned for this month. Ensemble InterContemporain, which Boulez founded in 1976, celebrates with a three day mini-festival from March 19-21 that includes performances of Dialogue de l’ombre double for clarinet and tape, and …explosante-fixe… for flute, electronics and ensemble, led by Matthias Pintscher. On March 21, the BBC Symphony Orchestra presents a portrait concert featuring his masterwork Pli selon pli, for soprano and orchestra with soloist Yeree Suh, as well as Notations for orchestra, conducted by François-Xavier Roth.

Visit Universal Edition’s #Boulez90 blog for an exclusive collection of videos, interviews, articles and assorted media in celebration of the composer’s birthday.

Information on Pierre Boulez can be found at universaledition.com.

Pierre Boulez
Dialogue de l’ombre double (1984)
for clarinet, tape
20’  

…explosante-fixe… (1991/1993)
for flute with live electronics, 2 flutes and ensemble
2.2.3.2-2.2.2.1-3vn.2va.2vc.db
36’

Pli selon pli (1957-1962)
Portrait de Mallarmé
for soprano and orchestra
text (Fr) by Stéphane Mallarmé
4.1.3.1.2asax-4.2.3.0-8perc-3hp.cel.pno.mand.gtr-4vn.8va.5vc.6db
67’

Notations I-IV (1945/1978/1984)
for orchestra
4.4.5.4-6.4.4.1-timp.8perc-3hp.cel-str
8’

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