Pierre Boulez (1925-2016)

[Mirror Image]

I've never heard him say post 70s Stockhausen music was anything close to being 'nonsensical' .. or 'interesting for about 5 minutes' or 'just like movie music'. And if he did it would obviously be off the mark. In fact, I have heard just the opposite for the most part and he totally respected Stockhausen as a major composer in a big way, and found him 'the most fascinating and mysterious' .. and i've heard him say that he had no real issues with 'the music' of Licht per se and finds a lot of it 'quite striking', he just wasn't into the text or the mystical religious synchronicities. Tho if you've heard enough Cage, Adams or Glass for instance one can easily understand Boulez is clearly dead on about that stuff.

And Boulez has an opinion like anyone else. He does not represent fact and he certainly doesn't speak for everyone, especially me.

[Mirror Image]

Cage is mindless crap.

Your opinion.

Glass is interesting for 5 minutes...

Your opinion.

and Adams is totally forgettable and boring.

And finally...your opinion.

Whether Boulez finds so and so composer horrible is not the issue, James. What is the issue is when opinions are being presented as facts like your own in this instance.

Anyway, I don't have the energy to debate opinion vs. fact with you, because you simply don't understand this concept. You're in your 60s right?

[Mirror Image]

For me based on experience it is an insight that is about as close to 'fact' as you can get.

Like I said, I'm not going to argue with you about it, because this is a non-issue. Opinion will NEVER equal fact.

[Amfortas]

  Opinion will NEVER equal fact.

Amen. 

[karlhenning]

. . . Opinion will NEVER equal fact.

Especially James's ; )

[snyprrr]

Especially James's ; )

See how Karl uses proper grammar by saying 'James's' with the 's'. One must applaud these things!

[karlhenning]

(* bows *)

[karlhenning]

If you've seen as many Guinness labels as I have, it would not look at all strange to you! ; )

[Joaquimhock]

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?

The latest (last?) version of Dérive 2 will be recorded this month for Naïve Records by the Ensemble Orchestral Contempo­rain (EOC), conducted Daniel Kawka:

http://www.qobuz.com/info/MAGAZINE-ACTUALITES/CONCERTS-ET-TOURNEES/Montbrison-rend-hommage-a-Pierre57194

[cassandra]

m. Fascinating collection of comments on Boulez the man. All I can do is report from my own life.

Firstly, I was at a performance of pli selon pli many moons ago, PB conducting, and the person sitting next to me was a former member of the BBCSO. He spoke of Boulez in glowing terms and how he cared for the members of the band.

Secondly, I was staying at the Hyatt in Berlin (again a long time ago) and Boulez was staying there as well. His small entourage, a male and female, and he were in conversation over both dinner and breakfast when I saw them. The conversation was the same as any other. Earnest, serious, smiles, laughs, frowns. Boulez did not engage in any "superstar" behaviour. I still regret not going over and telling him how much I admire his music. I have always been shy in front of my heroes.

Thirdly, and this tale is at 2nd or 3rd hand, but there is a prommer who apparently knows PB quite well, and she has had a signed photo of him as a birthday present or something. And I have heard her refer to him as Pierre. I quite like the lady (from my few encounters with her), she is has an amazing appreciation of all kinds of music.

OK that was the other side of the coin of Boulez, homme.

As for his music, I've been to Paris a few times to hear his stuff, conducted by him or in attendance. We have to be grateful he caused the creation of not only IRCAM but the Cité de la musique, with its moveable seating. I heard Anthèmes 2 there played from memory. It was spell binding. Of course as Répons was performed twice I had to go to both performances! I am still amazed at the moments when I think I am hearing the colours of Ravel. Gorgeous!

His concerts are sell outs and you need to get in early or you've had it. In fact, at the Cité quite a lot of avant-garde music sells out. I couldn't afford to go there until nearer the time when they were putting on some Nono, and when I could it was all sold out. At least there is a Holiday Inn across the road, so not far to go bed!

[ibanezmonster]

Boulez is looking really old now!

[Mirror Image]

Boulez is looking really old now!

Yes, this is generally what happens when a person ages.

[MDL]

Yes, this is generally what happens when a person ages.

Stockhausen managed to look fairly youthful and sprightly until he died.

[bhodges]

As for his music, I've been to Paris a few times to hear his stuff, conducted by him or in attendance. We have to be grateful he caused the creation of not only IRCAM but the Cité de la musique, with its moveable seating. I heard Anthèmes 2 there played from memory. It was spell binding. Of course as Répons was performed twice I had to go to both performances! I am still amazed at the moments when I think I am hearing the colours of Ravel. Gorgeous!

Thanks, cassandra, for all the Boulez comments. I, too, heard Anthèmes 2 and Répons when the Ensemble Intercontemporain did them at Carnegie Hall a few years back. Your comparison with Ravel is spot-on; if Ravel had lived into the late 20th century and had access to computers, he might have come up with something like Répons - some really gorgeous sonorities there.

Last night heard a fine performance of Boulez's Second Piano Sonata by Taka Kigawa, an excellent pianist with a penchant for contemporary repertoire (his program included Saariaho and Stockhausen). He did the Boulez - a monster at over half an hour - from memory.

--Bruce

[Coco]

Exciting!

[eyeresist]

Stockhausen managed to look fairly youthful and sprightly until he died.

... after which he began to let himself go.

[Sylph]

He's going to conduct music by Schubert in February with Cleveland. I wonder which piece(s).

http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/event-detail/2011-Mar-38.aspx?pid=9109

[Brian]

This New York Times article offers the peculiar fact that Pierre Boulez used to attend parties at Paul Simon's place.

[karlhenning]

This New York Times article offers the peculiar fact that Pierre Boulez used to attend parties at Paul Simon's place.

I heard that was the genesis of "You Can Call Me Al" . . . that Boulez was introduced to Paul Simon, but got his name wrong.

[karlhenning]

I heard that was the genesis of “You Can Call Me Al” . . . that Boulez was introduced to Paul Simon, but got his name wrong.

Well, and there in the article is that very story. Might have guessed, I suppose . . . .