Pierre Boulez (1925-2016)

[karlhenning]

Boulez could really have been someone, if he had been cast in a cameo for The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash

[not edward]

Boulez could really have been someone, if he had been cast in a cameo for The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash

And all Boulez did need was cash, of course. A musician-cum-tax lawyer friend once told me that some of Boulez's attempts to not pay tax while in charge of the NYPO ended up as legally significant test cases.

[karlhenning]

He could take a cue from Douglas Adams, and spend a year dead for tax purposes . . . .

[MDL]

Just got back from Pli selon Pli at the Royal Festival Hall. I'm slightly winded at the idea of paying £35 for a concert that lasted barely one hour, and I have to confess that the minute Boulez appeared on stage, I rushed to grab one of the many more expensive (empty) seats. Christ knows what they were going for. 

It's the first time I've heard Pli live, and it confirmed my long-standing impression that this is Boulez's finest achievement. As is his tendency these days, Boulez's reading was warmer, softer and grander than his spiky Sony/CBS recording (still my favourite of the three recordings). But the attention to detail and texture was extraordinary, and the chiming, clanging, twanging sonorities were beguiling. The audience gave it a standing ovation.

[bhodges]

Just got back from Pli selon Pli at the Royal Festival Hall. I'm slightly winded at the idea of paying £35 for a concert that lasted barely one hour, and I have to confess that the minute Boulez appeared on stage, I rushed to grab one of the many more expensive (empty) seats. Christ knows what they were going for. 

It's the first time I've heard Pli live, and it confirmed my long-standing impression that this is Boulez's finest achievement. As is his tendency these days, Boulez's reading was warmer, softer and grander than his spiky Sony/CBS recording (still my favourite of the three recordings). But the attention to detail and texture was extraordinary, and the chiming, clanging, twanging sonorities were beguiling. The audience gave it a standing ovation.

Thanks for this nice write-up! Sounds like it was a fantastic evening, and so happy to hear that the rest of the audience thought so, too. PS, on Tuesday I'm hearing an excellent group, the Talea Ensemble, play Le marteau sans maître.

--Bruce

[bhodges]

PS, just saw this link posted on Twitter, a video of the same concert just a few days earlier in Paris, and apparently available to view through mid-November.

http://liveweb.arte.tv/fr/video/Pli_selon_Pli_Pierre_Boulez_Ensemble_Intercontemporain_Salle_Pleyel/

--Bruce

[MDL]

Thanks for this nice write-up! Sounds like it was a fantastic evening, and so happy to hear that the rest of the audience thought so, too. PS, on Tuesday I'm hearing an excellent group, the Talea Ensemble, play Le marteau sans maître.

--Bruce

It was a really enjoyable evening, although the atmosphere in town is a bit strange; we're having a freak spell of hot weather in the UK (30C in October in London is unheard of) so people are a bit spaced out and cheery.

I've got Boulez's DG recording of Marteau, which I really like, but I have no idea how it compares to earlier performances. Have you heard the DG ? If so, how does it compare to the earlier (and I assume spikier) recordings?

[MDL]

PS, just saw this link posted on Twitter, a video of the same concert just a few days earlier in Paris, and apparently available to view through mid-November.

http://liveweb.arte.tv/fr/video/Pli_selon_Pli_Pierre_Boulez_Ensemble_Intercontemporain_Salle_Pleyel/

--Bruce

Ooh, wow! And unless I'm mistaken, Barbara Hannigan was wearing the same frock tonight.

[bhodges]

I've got Boulez's DG recording of Marteau, which I really like, but I have no idea how it compares to earlier performances. Have you heard the DG ? If so, how does it compare to the earlier (and I assume spikier) recordings?

I have only heard the DG a few times (and don't have the "A/B" comparison in my head), but tend to share the opinions of those who have say exactly that: the earlier ones are a bit more raw and urgent. But that doesn't make the DG one irrelevant by any means, especially given the almost supernatural playing of the Ensemble Intercontemporain.

Ooh, wow! And unless I'm mistaken, Barbara Hannigan was wearing the same frock tonight.

And now I have to say "wow": I adore Barbara Hannigan, and didn't realize she was the soloist! Got to meet her last December after she did the Grisey Quatre chants here.

--Bruce

[Cato]

I have only heard the DG a few times (and don't have the "A/B" comparison in my head), but tend to share the opinions of those who have say exactly that: the earlier ones are a bit more raw and urgent. But that doesn't make the DG one irrelevant by any means, especially given the almost supernatural playing of the Ensemble Intercontemporain.

And now I have to say "wow": I adore Barbara Hannigan, and didn't realize she was the soloist! Got to meet her last December after she did the Grisey Quatre chants here.

--Bruce

Yes, the DGG version is quite fine!  It also has the incredible Explosante-fixe!

[MDL]

Yes, the DGG version is quite fine!  It also has the incredible Explosante-fixe!

No it doesn't.

[Cato]

No it doesn't.

Augh!  You are right! 

It has the incredible Dérive 1 and Dérive 2 !!!

Now where is my CD with Explosante-fixe!   

[MDL]

Augh!  You are right! 

It has the incredible Dérive 1 and Dérive 2 !!!

Now where is my CD with Explosante-fixe!   

I've got a copy.

[Cato]

I've got a copy.

That's the one!  My memory switched them around!    0:)

Both CD's are highly recommended!

[MDL]

That's the one!  My memory switched them around!    0:)

Both CD's are highly recommended!

True indeed! Sorry, I was a bit blunt earlier! Time for bed, methinks. This heatwave (and a fair amount of beer) is wearing me out.

[snyprrr]

Perhaps Reynolds Wrap should use Pli selon pli as a Theme Song?

[snyprrr]

Somewhere in this 3-CD set there is the Quatuor Parrenin's recording of Livre pour Quatuor. I believe it is the first time it appears on CD - and it is high time it would.

I'm pretty sure that's on 2-3 parts of it. The whole thing is on the Assai label, with the Quatuor Parisii. Great stuff!

[snyprrr]

I have 2 live recordings & a video of Derivative II (based on studies he did for Repons, as was Derivative I - hence their titles) conducted by PB himself .. it's not much of an event. Like most Boulez I often prefer the original versions over his constant re-tooling of old works. Hopefully he'll knock out some new music and stop conducting and tinkering with old stuff ,, what a shame all the time & energy he has wasted doing this!

Slightly reminding me of George Lucas, of course with much different results!

[not edward]

Agreed; I've found that Derive II's latest expansion is a but on the flaccid side. I thought the material was a little thin in the 20 minute version, and the 45 minute one is just routine to me--no match for a previous inflation of a small work like sur Incises. I'm hoping for better things in Anthemes III, if it ever surfaces.

[PaulSC]

Anthèmes 3 has been talked about for a long time, I hope it involves electronics. Sur Incises is a brilliant composition, so is Répons & ...explosante-fixe... .. I recently got a file of Aimard playing PB's relatively new 2005 little piano ditty Une page d'éphéméride.

I'd like to hear that. I suppose in a few years we'll have Dix-huit pages d'éphéméride...

Meanwhile, here's a release that caught my eye:

[asin]B005QJ4DC6[/asin]

A recital disc by Hakon Austbo featuring music by Boulez, Carter, and (never heard of him) Asbjørn Schaathun.