Pierre Boulez will take a sabbatical and finish Notations

[Sylph]

Sometimes the stars actually do align, and the right people are in the right place at the right time.

Such was the situation of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in early 2004 when Daniel Barenboim unexpectedly announced that he would not renew his contract as CSO music director when it expired in June 2006. Music director since 1991 when he succeeded the charismatic Sir Georg Solti, Barenboim disagreed with the CSO administration about the artistic direction the orchestra should take in future seasons. The CSO suddenly found itself searching for a new maestro at a time when numerous other orchestras in the U. S. and Europe were also stalking a dismayingly small number of viable candidates. The prospects of finding a suitable match quickly were slim to none.

That was when Pierre Boulez, one of the 20th century's most eminent composers and conductors, stepped up to the plate. He had first conducted the CSO in 1969 in a program that featured a young Barenboim as piano soloist. One of Barenboim's closest friends and colleagues, the French conductor had become a regular visitor to the CSO once Barenboim became music director. In 1995 he was named principal guest conductor, only the third person to hold that position since the CSO's founding in 1891.

The rest is here.

[Sylph]

Regarding the conducting too much this year comment, a short breakdown of his concerts: he will conduct the CSO in two different programs: Ravel/Dalbavie/Bartók & Boulez/Bartók/Stravinsky in Chicago, Ann Arbor and New York (Carnegie Hall) until the end of January. Plus a Music NOW concert.

In March he will be in Paris and Cologne (Birtwistle/Boulez/Schönberg) with the Ensemble Intercontemporain and in Vienna conducting the Wiener Philharmoniker in a Szymanowski/Debussy/Boulez program.

In April in Berlin Le Marteau and other works, I think with soloists from Divan Orchestra...

In May he will conduct the MET Orchestra in Carnegie Hall: Erwartung and The Wooden Prince are on program. Also in Paris with EI: Bartók/Berg/Debussy/Messiaen/Ravel/Schönberg/Stravinsky/Varèse/Webern and Berio/Boulez/Carter/Dalbavie/Donatoni/Grime/Kurtág/Ligeti/Messiaen/Robin/Stockhausen and in Prague: Boulez/Donatoni/Ligeti/Varèse.

And in Paris Orchestre de Paris: I know Notations are on programme...

In June in Vienna, Amsterdam and Aldeburgh with EI: Berg/Donatoni/Ligeti/Stockhausen.

In July possibly in Salzburg with Vienna Philharmonic again... If not him, I think that Barenboim will conduct the Notations.

During the summer I don't know if he'll be in Aix-en-Provence, he was last year... The program will be announced on January 18.

In August/September he'll be in Lucerne (Webern/Ammann/Scriabin; Stravinsky/Carter/Schönberg; Boulez/Mahler).

In January 2011 in Amsterdam with the RCO: Mahler's Seventh.

[Sylph]

Then there are the Donaueschinger Musiktage, he should be there too.

[Sylph]

CSO Celebrates Pierre Boulez's 85th Birthday with Recording



The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is celebrating Helen Regenstein Conductor Emeritus Pierre Boulez's 85th birthday with a new all-Stravinsky recording released by the CSO Resound label. It will be available January 19 on iTunes and in stores January 26. cso.org

[springrite]

Of course, ten years from now, he may decide to finish Notations, again.

[Sylph]

Forgot to add the Staatskapelle Berlin: in April (Boulez/Schönberg/Berg and an all-Boulez program).

[Dax]

Blimey, he's conducting Szymanowski 3 in Vienna. Can't imagine it.

[Sylph]

Sylph...do know which Donatoni, Ligeti & Stockhausen works?

Yes.

In Vienna:

Francesco Donatoni: Tema, for 12 instruments
Karlheinz Stockhausen: Kontra-Punkte, for 10 instruments
György Ligeti: Chamber Concerto, for 13 instruments
Alban Berg: Chamber Concerto, for piano, violin and 13 winds

Mitsuko Uchida will be playing the piano and Christian Tetzlaff violin.

Amsterdam — the same.

Aldeburgh (Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano):

Edgard Varèse: Octandre, for 8 instruments
Francesco Donatoni: Tema, for 12 instruments
György Ligeti: Piano Concerto
Pierre Boulez: Dérive 2, for 11 instruments

[Sylph]

Blimey, he's conducting Szymanowski 3 in Vienna. Can't imagine it.

Yes!

I hope that this once sees the light of day in CD or any other audio form!

[Sylph]

I forgot about his Cleveland Orchestra appearances, which include Das Knaben Wunderhorn, Ravel and Debussy.