Pierre Boulez (1925-2016)

[snyprrr]

Boulez has panned composers whose line is parallel to his, when he doubts their merits. He has occasionally come close to tagging Xenakis a failure - and has actually used that term on Barraque.

In his latest Diapason interview he quietly destroys Stockhausen.

In what did Xenakis fail, Pepe??? (bitch slaps Boulez so hard his comb-over resembles one of Xenakis' glissandi diagrams)




Still, I wanna hear the gossip!

[smith888]

hey guys,,,,,
I have the Boulez Rite of Spring with Cleveland. I find the Danse Sacrale incredible, it is still an eye-opener (or ear opener?) every time I listen to it. He takes it at exactly the metronome marking prescribed by Stravinsky, which is much, much slower than how it is usually done.

[MDL]

hey guys,,,,,
I have the Boulez Rite of Spring with Cleveland. I find the Danse Sacrale incredible, it is still an eye-opener (or ear opener?) every time I listen to it. He takes it at exactly the metronome marking prescribed by Stravinsky, which is much, much slower than how it is usually done.

His first (Sony/CBS) or the DG remake? His first is probably my favourite recording of the Rite. The second is a bit toothless.

[MishaK]

He should. He's 85 years old... I'd like to hear a new Boulez work before he dies.

You'll be delighted to know that he's taking a year-long leave of absence to do just that. Supposedly a Boulez opera is in the works as well. He has no scheduled concerts from now through I think most of the next season.

[MDL]

There is also yet another live recording (easier to do) coming out soon of retread (yawn) ... Wagner/Schoenberg



http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4779347

I really liked Boulez's CSO Pelleas, even if I think Karajan did a better job with the final section, so I look forward to hearing this.

[MDL]

In his latest Diapason interview he quietly destroys Stockhausen.

What, all Stockhausen? OK, he wrote some dubious pieces in his hippy days and often seemed to be working on autopilot later in life, but, in my opinion, his greatest works tower over anything by Boulez. Also, the range and scale of his output, masterpieces or not, dwarfs Boulez's small and fairly limited contribution. I love Boulez as a composer and conductor, but he's always been a bitchy-arsed little gobshite, hasn't he?

[DavidRoss]

I love Boulez as a composer and conductor, but he's always been a bitchy-arsed little gobshite, hasn't he?

I'm not trying to offend anyone, but...have you ever known a French intellectual who wasn't? 

[karlhenning]

What's the French for egghead? Tête-d'oeuf ?

[karlhenning]

. . . Well he loves to talk . . ., pontificate . . . .

Reminds me of someone. Hang on, I'll remember whom in a minute . . . .

[(poco) Sforzando]

Mr. 28579 posts? 

Can't be Karl. His count as I write is 28583.

[greg]

Can't be Karl. His count as I write is 28583.

No, it's 28585. It's almost like the number is constantly changing... 

Nice to hear about Boulez composing, though...

[Joaquimhock]

Several very important composers composed lesss than Boulez (Varese, Webern, Ustwolskaya) but yes, it's a shame that he still accepts to conduct anything. This is a mystery. He says he would always prefer composing if he had to choose, but he's always in a podium somewhere in the world to play Bartok or Debussy... Come on Pierre you don't need money, you don't need stardom but we need Anthème III !!! ;-)

[Sylph]

What was Boulez's relationship with Jolivet like? What cause the rift and the feud?

[MishaK]

I'm not trying to offend anyone, but...have you ever known a French intellectual who wasn't?

He's actually a very pleasant and humorous guy in person.

[PaulSC]

He's actually a very pleasant and humorous guy in person.

But watch your back! 

[MDL]

The Southbank Centre is hosting a Boulez festival in October. There's loads of his piano music which I'm not particularly arsed about; more excitingly, there will be performances of ...explosante-fix... and Pli selon Pli.

http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/festivals-series/exquisite-labyrinth-the-music-of-pierre-boulez

Edit: Just noticed there's a concert in September, too, featuring the inevitable (but still welcome, of course) Rituel.

[klingsor]

  A good number of videos here, Boulez conducting his own and other's music

http://www.citedelamusiquelive.tv/Concert/0942572.html

[Coco]

Has anyone heard the 2006 version of Dérive II? Apparently it's 45 minutes long — the version on the DG recording is from 2002 and is nearly half the length. Are there any recordings?

[bhodges]

Has anyone heard the 2006 version of Dérive II? Apparently it's 45 minutes long — the version on the DG recording is from 2002 and is nearly half the length. Are there any recordings?

Can't answer your second question, but I did hear the newer version last December, at a very good Boulez birthday tribute concert by the Talea Ensemble:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/sandh/2011/Jan-Jun11/boulez0612.htm

Can't say that I really liked it, but then, I've only heard it once, so...

--Bruce

[springrite]

Yesterday, I was playing a DVD of Boulez (Eclat). Three year old Kimi came and sat beside me and listened attentively. Five minutes later, Vanessa came and said "Hey, Kimi won't like that!", and changed the DVD to Mozart. Kimi got upset:"Mommy! I was enjoying the last one! Put it back! That was good stuff!!!"

Vanessa was speechless.