26 March
Born in Montbrison (Loire). Son of Léon Boulez, an engineer, and Marcelle Calabre. The couple gives birth to a first child (stillborn) and a daughter, Jeanne, in 1922. A second son, Roger, was born in 1936.
Biography
Through a detailed chronology, supported by audio-visual and iconographic archives, discover the musical, literary and institutional career of Pierre Boulez.
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1925
1931
He begins playing the piano on his own.
Pierre Boulez with his sister Jeanne et his father Léon, around 1930 © Bibliothèque nationale de France (see archive)
1933-1940
Student at the Institut Victor de Laprade (Montbrison).
1940-1941
Pensionnat Saint-Louis (Saint-Étienne), preparation for the "Elementary Mathematics" Baccalauréat, which he passed.
Piano lessons with Miss Beauvert.
1941-1943
In Lyon, studies Advanced Mathematics (1941-1942) then Special Mathematics (1942-1943) at the "Lazaristes" (formerly known as Cours Sogno).
Attends several concerts, including a performance of Boris Godounov at the Opéra, a recital by violinist Jacques Thibaud playing Mythes by Karol Szymanowski and a performance of La Danse des morts by Arthur Honegger, conducted by André Cluytens.
Against his father’s wishes, he decides to devote himself to music.
In 1942, he meets the singer Ninon Vallin, whom he accompanies on the piano and who encourages him on his musician’s path. Ninon Vallin introduces him to Lionel de Pachmann, with whom he studies piano and harmony.
At the end of the 1942-1943 school year, he decides against taking the engineering school entrance exams and leaves Lyon to prepare for the Paris Conservatoire.
Autograph manuscript of La Mort by Pierre Boulez, 1943 © Courtesy of the Paul Sacher Foundation (see the archive)
First compositions: several melodies (on poems by Charles Baudelaire, Théophile Gautier, Rainer Maria Rilke, Émile Verhaeren), as well as piano pieces, including a Thème et variations and a Psalmodie (known as "N°0").
1943
September
He moves to Paris, first to the home of harpist Pierre Jamet, to whom Ninon Vallin had recommended him, then to a room at 14, rue Oudinot.
1944
January
He is admitted to the Conservatoire de Paris, in Georges Dandelot’s preparatory harmony class.
19 April
Begins to study counterpoint privately with Andrée Vaurabourg, Arthur Honegger’s wife and a renowned teacher, under whose tutelage he spends two years until May 1946.
28 June
Meets Olivier Messiaen at a private performance of Visions de l’Amen given by the composer with Yvonne Loriod at Guy-Bernard Delapierre’s home at 24, rue Visconti.
30 November
Fails the second round of the entrance exam to Jean Doyen’s superior piano class at the Conservatoire, which he had prepared with his assistant, Mrs François.
8 December
Attends Messiaen’s private music lessons for a small group of students, including Yvonne Loriod, Yvette Grimaud, Serge Nigg and Jean-Louis Martinet. Messiaen analyses Stravinsky (The Rite of Spring, Petrouchka, Noces), Debussy (Jeux), Ravel (Ma Mère l’Oye).
1945
During this first period in Paris, he composes several pieces for piano:Thème et variations pour la main gauche, Prélude, toccata et scherzo, Trois Psalmodies, Douze Notations.
He composes a Quatuor pour ondes Martenot which he never played, from which he made a Sonate pour deux pianos (1945-1948) also unreleased.
January
Admitted to Olivier Messiaen’s advanced harmony class at the Conservatoire, which he attends for six months.
Olivier Messiaen on Pierre Boulez, 24 January 1957
Radiodiffusion Télévision Française © INA, 1957 (see the archive)
Moves to 4, rue Beautreillis, where he stays until 1958.
February
Messiaen brings his students to André Jolivet. Discovers Mana, the Cinq Incantations pour flûte seule and the Cinq Danses rituelles. Attends a private performance of the Wind Quintet op. 26 by Arnold Schönberg, conducted by René Leibowitz, who gives several private lessons to a group of students until the spring of the following year. Discovers the works by Schönberg (Variations for orchestra op. 31) and Anton Webern (Symphony op. 21, Variations op. 24, Variations for piano op. 27).
11 June
First Prize for Harmony.
October
Enrols in Simone Plé-Caussade’s fugue class at the Conservatoire, which he quickly stops attending.
10 November
Participates as a pianist, alongside Serge Nigg, Yvette Grimaud and Yvonne Loriod, in a concert of premieres of microtonal works by Ivan Wyschnegradsky at the salle Chopin in Paris.
5 December
At the Conservatoire (rue du Conservatoire, 9th arrondissement), René Leibowitz conducts his Chamber Concerto op. 10, with works by Webern (Symphony op. 21) and Schönberg (Kammersymphonie op. 9 and Herzgewächse). Boulez holds the harmonium.
Winter 1945-1946
Discovers recordings of music from outside Europe (Africa, India, Indonesia, Asia), thanks to Mady Sauvageot, curator of music collections at the musée Guimet. Study trip project to Cambodia.
1946
He severs ties with René Leibowitz, whom he had criticised for his excessive deference to Schönberg’s twelve-tone theory.
Makes his living as a ondist, notably at the Folies Bergère and for RDF broadcasts, after learning about the ondes Martenot from its inventor.
January-February
Composes the Sonatine pour flûte et piano.
12 February
Yvette Grimaud creates part of the Trois Psalmodies and the Douze Notations pour piano (Concerts du Triptyque, École normale de Musique).
Trois Psalmodies, Yvette Grimaud (piano), 1946
Radiodiffusion Télévision Française © INA, 1962(see the archive)
June
Completes the first version of his Première Sonate pour piano, which he had begun in March.
October
Engaged by the Compagnie Renaud-Barrault, on the recommendation of Arthur Honegger, to play the ondes Martenot in a production of Hamlet (translation by André Gide, music by Honegger, sets by André Masson) which premieres on 17 October at the Théâtre Marigny (Paris).
Interview with Jean-Louis Barrault on Pierre Boulez, 20 October 1980
Radio France © INA, 1980 (see the archive)
Composes the first version of Visage nuptial on a text by René Char (to read "Music, Literature, Poetry").
End of the year
He gets hired by Jean-Louis Barrault as director of the Compagnie’s stage music, where he directs a small group of instrumentalists in pieces that he usually transcribed and arranged.
Pierre Boulez in rehearsal at the Théâtre Marigny with Jean-Louis Barrault, 1950 © Étienne Bertrand Weill / Bibliothèque nationale de France (see archive)
1947
Composes a Symphonie concertante pour piano et orchestre, the manuscript of which he will lose in 1954.
28 February
Premiere of the Sonatine pour flûte et piano, in Brussels (Palais des Beaux-Arts), by Herlin Van Boterdael (flute) and Marcelle Mercenier (piano).
April-May
European tour with the Compagnie Renaud-Barrault (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland). Meets André Souris in Brussels.
10 June
Premiere on Radiodiffusion Française (RDF) of the revised version of the Première Sonate (first movement only) by Yvette Grimaud.
Piano Sonata n° 1, Yvette Grimaud (piano), 10 June 1947
Radiodiffusion Française (RDF) © INA, 1947 (see the archive)
11 June
Premiere (Concerts du Triptyque, École Normale) of the first version of Visage nuptial in Paris, by Mady Sauvageot (soprano), Serge Nigg, Ginette Martenot (ondes Martenot), Pierre Boulez (piano) and a percussionist.
Summer
Attends a reading by Antonin Artaud at the Galerie de Pierre Loeb (Paris). Meets René Char at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (to read "Music, Literature, Poetry").
September
Discovers the works of Paul Klee, exhibited in Avignon.
Meet Pierre Souvtchinsky, Paule Thévenin, Boris de Schlœzer.
November
Attends a performance of works by Alban Berg, including three excerpts from Wozzeck conducted by Roger Désormière, as part of a fortnight of Austrian music in Paris.
Discovers the works of Kandinsky and Mondrian.
1948
Publication of the first two articles, "Propositions" and "Incidences actuelles de Berg" (Polyphonie N°2, a review founded in 1947 by André Souris).
28 February
Completes the Deuxième Sonate pour piano begun in the previous months.
March
Undertakes the composition of a string quartet which will become the Livre pour quatuor.
18 April
Recording, at RDF (Radiodiffusion française), of the initial version of Soleil des eaux, composed for a show written by René Char (to read "Music, Literature, Poetry"). Director Alain Trutat puts it on the air for Radiodiffusion Française, with the orchestra conducted by André Girard.
1949
Mai
Meets John Cage in Paris, who introduces him to Hervé Dugardin, his first publisher.
10 and 17 June
Presents John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano, at the American composer’s first Paris concerts, given in private venues (notably Suzanne Tézenas’s home).
October
Publication of the article "Trajectoires: Ravel, Stravinsky, Schönberg" (Contrepoints N°6, edited by Fred Goldbeck).
1950
29 April
Yvette Grimaud gives the first performance of the Deuxième Sonate pour piano, recently published by Heugel, in Paris (École normale de Musique).
May-July
Tour of South America with the Compagnie Renaud-Barrault. Meet Mauricio Kagel in Argentina.
18 July
Premiere (Théâtre des Champs-Élysées) of the first orchestral version of Soleil des eaux in Paris, with the Orchestre national de la RTF conducted by Roger Désormière.
Le Soleil des eaux, Roger Désormière (conducting), Orchestre national de la RTF, 18 July 1950
Radiodiffusion Télévision Française © INA, 1950 (see the archive)
17 December
On John Cage’s initiative, pianist David Tudor gives the American premiere of the Deuxième Sonate in New York.
Project for a work on Stéphane Mallarmé’s Le Coup de dés (to read "Music, Literature, Poetry"). He begins Polyphonie X.
1951
Writes an analysis of The Rite of Spring, "Stravinski demeure", which will be published in 1953.
Resumes work on Le Visage nuptial.
The Première Sonate pour piano is published by Amphion.
January
Meets Heinrich Strobel, Director of Music at Südwestfunk Baden-Baden and the Donaueschinger Musiktage.
March
Meets Paul Sacher in Basel, for several performances of Arthur Honegger’s Jeanne au bûcher, in which Pierre Boulez plays the ondes Martenot.
April
He begins work on the Premier Livre of Structures pour deux pianos, based on the series of pitches in Olivier Messiaen’s Mode de valeurs et d'intensités.
June
Lecture "L’intellectualisme est-il une tare en musique?" at the Décades de Royaumont, where he meets Henri Pousseur and Michel Foucault.
6 October
Hans Rosbaud conducts the premiere of Polyphonie X in Donaueschingen.
End of the year
Trains at Pierre Schaeffer’s Groupe de recherche de musique concrète, where he produces the Deux Études de musique concrète.
Deux Études de musique concrète
Radiodiffusion Télévision Française © INA, 1952 (see the archive)
1952
Meets Karlheinz Stockhausen, who has come to Paris to study with Olivier Messiaen [to read: « Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen »].
April
Publication of the article "Éventuellement" (La Revue musicale, special issue for the festival "L’Œuvre du XXe siècle", organised in Paris by Nicolas Nabokov).
May
Publication of the article "Schönberg Is Dead" (The Score, N°6).
7 May
Premiers the first piece (Ia) of the Premier Livre of the Structures pour deux pianos, with Olivier Messiaen, as part of the festival "L’Œuvre du XXe siècle" (Paris, Comédie des Champs-Élysées).
July
Attends the Darmstadt summer courses (Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik) for the first time, where he presents the Deux Études de musique concrète and attends a performance of his Deuxième Sonate by Yvonne Loriod. He meets Bruno Maderna and Luigi Nono.
September
Begins composing Le Marteau sans maître on a text by René Char (to read "Music, Literature, Poetry").
3 October
Premiere in Cologne, by the Ensemble vocal Marcel Couraud, of a piece ("Séquence") of Oubli signal lapidé for 12 voices, a work begun in previous months based on a text by Armand Gatti.
Autograph manuscript of Le Marteau sans maître by Pierre Boulez, 1952-1955 © Courtesy of the Paul Sacher Foundation (see the archive)
November-December
Tours Canada and New York with the Compagnie Renaud-Barrault. Spends time staying with John Cage in New York, where he meets Edgard Varèse, Igor Stravinsky, the visual artists Alexander Calder, Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, and discovers the poetry of Edward Estlin Cummings, known as e. e. cummings (to read "Music, Literature, Poetry").
Universal Edition (Vienna) becomes his publisher.
1953
Completes the second version of Visage nuptial, begun in 1951, which he will premiere in Cologne in 1957.
Publication of the article "Stravinski demeure", written in 1951 (Musique russe, Presses universitaires de France, vol. 1, edited by Pierre Souvtchinsky).
13 November
In Cologne, Yvette Grimaud and Yvonne Loriod perform the pieces Ia and Ic (premiere) from the Premier Livre of the Structures pour deux pianos.
Pierre Boulez working at the Théâtre Marigny in Paris, 1953 © Daniel Frasnay / akg-images (see archive)
1954
Publication of the articles "... Auprès et au loin" (Cahiers de la Compagnie Renaud-Barrault, N°3), "Probabilités critiques du compositeur" (Bulletin of the Domaine musical), "Recherches maintenant" (Nouvelle Revue française, N°23).
13 January
First of the "Concerts du Petit Marigny" (on the programme: Johann Sebastian Bach, Luigi Nono, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Anton Webern, Igor Stravinsky), organised by the Compagnie Renaud-Barrault.
Interview with Pierre Boulez, 01 January 1954
Radiodiffusion Télévision Française © INA, 1954 (see the archive)
10 April
Fourth concert at the Petit Marigny. At Pierre Souvtchinsky’s instigation, the Concerts form an association in the following months, under the name of "Domaine musical". Suzanne Tézenas becimes President and Pierre Boulez treasurer.
May-July
Another tour of South America with the Compagnie Renaud-Barrault, from where he brings back musical instruments. Attends "macumba" rituals with Jean-Louis Barrault.
Charango lute from Pierre Boulez’s collection of musical instruments © Bibliothèque nationale de France (see the archive)
2 December
Writes a text for the première of Déserts by Edgard Varèse (Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris, Orchestre national conducted by Hermann Scherchen), read live on the radio.
1955
Begins the Troisième Sonate pour piano.
Publication of the article "À la limite du pays fertile" (Die Reihe, N°1).
4 May
First concert of the Domaine musical (Petit Théâtre Marigny), during which Yvonne Loriod and Hans Alexander Kaul give the first complete performance of the Premier Livre of the Structures pour deux pianos.
26 May
The Compagnie Renaud-Barrault gives a performance of L’Orestie by Aeschylus in Bordeaux, for which Pierre Boulez has composed the score.
L’Orestie, Compagnie Renaud-Barrault, 30 October 1955 at the Théâtre Marigny
Eléonore Cramer, Radiodiffusion Télévision Française © INA, 1955 (see the archive)
2 June
In Darmstadt, a lecture on Anton Webern and Claude Debussy as a prelude to the premiere of the complete Premier Livre of Structures, by Yvonne Loriod and Hans Alexander Kaul.
Pierre Boulez and Yvonne Loriod, 1957 © akg-images / ullstein bild (see archive)
18 June
Hans Rosbaud conducts the premiere of Le Marteau sans maître in Baden-Baden (Festival de la Société internationale pour la musique contemporaine [SMIC]), with Sybilla Plate (mezzo-soprano) and members of the Südwestfunkorchester Baden-Baden.
15 October
The Marschner Quartet gives the first performance of parts Ia, Ib and II of the Livre pour quatuor in Donaueschingen.
End of the year
Produces musique concrète for Jean Mitry's short film, La Symphonie mécanique (to be screened in Paris in early 1956).
1956
Begins the Second Livre of the Structures pour deux pianos.
He gradually gives up conducting the Compagnie Renaud-Barrault, whose music he would still conduct on a few occasions, to devote himself to the Domaine musical.
21 March
Conducts the French premiere of Le Marteau sans maître in a concert at the Domaine musical (Petit Marigny) with Marie-Thérèse Cahn (mezzo-soprano). This is the first Domaine musical concert that he conducts in its entirety.
April-June
Last South American tour with the Compagnie Renaud-Barrault.
16 June
In Caracas, he conducts a symphony orchestra for the first time (in a programme featuring Debussy, Prokofiev and Stravinsky).
July
Meets Luciano Berio in Darmstadt and teaches composition and analysis. Takes part in a round-table discussion with Bruno Maderna and Karlheinz Stockhausen on the possibilities that electronic music offers for composition [to read: « Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen »].
15 July
Severino Gazzelloni and David Tudor perform in Darmstadt the revised version of the Sonatine pour flûte et piano.
Pierre Boulez with Luigi Nono and Karlheinz Stockhausen, 1957 © SWR company archive (see archive)
1st December
Publication of the article "La corruption dans les encensoirs" (La Nouvelle Revue française, N°48).
15 December
Premiere of Stockhausen’s Zeitmasse at the Domaine musical, under his direction [to read: « Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen »].
Record release
Boulez: Le Marteau sans maître · Domaine musical, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Marie-Thérèse Cahn (voice) [Véga].
1957
Revises Le Marteau sans maître.
Works on the Troisième Sonate pour piano, Doubles (commissioned by the Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux) and a piece for flute (Strophes).
Composes two Improvisations sur Mallarmé (to read "Music, Literature, Poetry") and music for a radio play by Louise Fauré (Le Crépuscule de Yang Koueï-Fei).
La Crépuscule de Yang Kouei Fei, Pierre Boulez (conducting), 1 July 1957
Radiodiffusion Télévision Française © INA, 1957 (see the archive)
25 September
Performs an incomplete version of his Troisième Sonate in Darmstadt.
November
Publication of the articles "Alea" (La Nouvelle Revue française, N°59) and "Tendances de la musique récente" (La Revue musicale, N°236).
4 December
Directs the creation of the new version of Le Visage nuptial in Cologne, replacing Hermann Scherchen. This new conducting experience is decisive for the rest of his career.
Le Visage nuptial
Radiodiffusion Télévision Française © INA, 1959 (see the archive)
1958
13 January
Hans Rosbaud conducts the premiere of Improvisations sur Mallarmé I et II, in Hamburg, with Ilse Hollweg (soprano).
16 March
Directs the creation of Doubles in Paris.
Pierre Boulez with the Orchestre Lamoureux, Salle Pleyel, 16 March 1958 © Photo Ingi Paris / akg-images (see archive)
24 March
Cologne premiere of Stockhausen’s Gruppen, conducted by the composer, Pierre Boulez and Maderna, with the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln [to read: « Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen »].
May
Publication of the article "Son et verbe" (Cahiers de la Compagnie Renaud–Barrault, N°22-23).
13 May
Lecture at the Collège philosophique entitled "Forme, hasard et interprétation".
June
Stays in Baden-Baden, where he works, at the Südwestfunk studio, on the electronic part of Poésie pour pouvoir, on a text by Henri Michaux (to read "Music, Literature, Poetry").
Pierre Boulez at the SWR studio © Dr. G.W. Baruch / SWR company archive (see archive)
9 September
In Darmstadt, conductor Ernest Bour premieres the second orchestral version of Le Soleil des eaux, which has been written by Pierre Boulez over the course of the year.
Autumn
Publication of the first volume of the Encyclopédie de la musique (Fasquelle editions), for which he wrote several entries.
18 October
Takes part in a new performance of Gruppen at the Donaueschinger Musiktage, with Hans Rosbaud and Stockhausen. A "Boulez-Miró" exhibition is organised as part of the festival.
Pierre Boulez with Karlheinz Stockhausen and Hans Rosbaud at the Südwestfunk studio in Baden-Baden © Dr. Karl Widmaier / SWR company archive (see archive)
19 October
Directs the creation of Poésie pour pouvoir in Donaueschingen with Hans Rosbaud.
Winter
Stays in Baden-Baden with Heinrich Strobel. Takes up residence in a boarding house, Haus Rubens, Werderstrasse 24.
1959
Composes a third Improvisation sur Mallarmé (to read "Music, Literature, Poetry").
Works on the sixth movement of the Livre pour quatuor. The Parrenin Quartet records three movements of the work for Erato.
January
Exclusive contract with Südwestfunk for the creation of his new works. Registration with GEMA, the German equivalent of Sacem.
10 June
In Darmstadt, he presents and comments on his Troisième Sonate.
Summer-Automn
Composes Tombeau à la mémoire du prince Egon zu Fürstenberg, for soprano and ensemble, which became the concluding piece of Pli selon pli the following year.
Pierre Boulez at home in Paris, 1958 © Photo Ingi Paris / akg-images (see archive)
25 July
At the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, he replaced Rosbaud, who was ill (programme: Anton Webern, Alban Berg, Henri Pousseur and Paul Hindemith).
18 October
New replacement for Rosbaud at the Donaueschinger Musiktage.
6 November
Concert at the Domaine musical, conducting the Südwestfunkorchester Baden-Baden. This was his first performance in Paris with a symphony orchestra. André Malraux, Minister of Cultural Affairs, attends the concert and publicly congratulates the young conductor. A success all-round.
1960
Moves to Baden-Baden, Kapuzinerstrasse 9. He rents the ground floor and then the entire house, which he goes on to acquire in 1995 on the death of the owner. Baden-Baden would become his main residence until 1974, when he moves to Paris, and then his second home until his death.
February
Conducts the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam.
13 June
Conducts the premiere of Pli selon pli (combining Don, Trois Improvisations sur Mallarmé and Tombeau) in Cologne (ISCM festival) with the soprano Eva Maria Rogner. Don is premiered on this occasion in the original version for soprano and piano (with pianist Maria Bergmann).
11-16 July
In Darmstadt, a series of lectures entitled "Penser la musique aujourd’hui".
September
Publication in the weekly Vérité-Liberté of the "Declaration on the Right to Insubordination in the Algerian War", known as the "121 Manifesto", which he had signed. The signatories, who were either prosecuted or suspended from their jobs, would be subjected to a government-imposed boycott. Living in Germany, this means Boulez would be prevented from crossing the border.
October
At Paul Sacher’s invitation, he conducts a concert in Basel (21 October) featuring, among other works, Pli selon pli, and gives a series of courses at the Basel Musik-Akademie (on Webern, Debussy and Berg), where he would teach every autumn until 1963.
1961
Works on the orchestration of Pli selon pli, revises Tombeau and Improvisation I sur Mallarmée. Begins a piece for percussions (Marges), which remains unfinished.
September
In Darmstadt, a lecture on "Discipline et Communication" and the premiere of movements V and VI of the Livre pour quatuor by the Hamann Quartet (9 September).
21 October
Premiere of the Deuxième Livre of Structures pour deux pianos in Donaueschingen, by Yvonne Loriod and Pierre Boulez.
November-December
At the Domaine musical, he directs a Stravinsky retrospective (8 November, to celebrate the composer’s 80th birthday) and a Schönberg festival (6 December).
Record release
Boulez: Deuxième Sonate pour piano · Yvonne Loriod (piano) [Véga]
1962
January
First concerts with the Residentie Orkest The Hague.
March
In Munich, he conducts Messiaen (Chronochromie), Berio (Allelujah II) and Stravinsky (Renard).
5 July
Premiere of the orchestral version of Don in Amsterdam.
8 July
The Parrenin Quartet premieres movement III of the Livre pour quatuor.
Autograph manuscript of Livre pour quatuor by Pierre Boulez, 1954-1961 © Courtesy of the Paul Sacher Foundation (see the archive)
August
Debut in Salzburg, where he conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker in The Rite of Spring and Noces by Stravinsky (choreography by Maurice Béjart).
22 August
In Basel, a lecture on Le Marteau sans maître and Schönberg’s Pierrot lunaire. The text is published in 1963 under the title "Dire, jouer, chanter" (Cahiers de la Compagnie Renaud–Barrault, N°41).
20 October
Conducts the Donaueschingen premiere of the first fully orchestrated version of Pli selon pli, with Eva-Maria Rogner (soprano) and the Südwestfunkorchester Baden-Baden. A few days later, he directs Le Marteau sans maître and Pierrot lunaire in Basel.
31 December
Conducts the Südwestfunkorchester Baden-Baden in Beethoven’s Heroic Symphony.
Record release
Schönberg: Pierrot lunaire · Orchestre du Domaine musical, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Helga Pilarczyk (voice) [Adès].
1963
Works on the redesign and expansion of Doubles, which will become Figures Doubles Prismes.
February
Replaces Hans Rosbaud as conductor of several concerts at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw.
Apreil-May
A series of six lectures at Harvard University entitled "The Necessity of an Aesthetic Orientation".
18 June
Conducts Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring for the first time in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, with the Orchestre national de la RTF, to mark the 50th anniversary of the work’s premiere. The recording wins an award from the Académie du disque.
The Rite of Spring, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Orchestre de la RTF, 18 juin 1963
René Corniot, Radiodiffusion Télévision Française © INA, 1963 (see the archive)
July
In Darmstadt, he continues with the theme of the Harvard lectures.
30 October
Directs the premiere of Olivier Messiaen’s Sept Haïkaï at the Domaine musical.
29 November
Directs Alban Berg’s Wozzeck at the Opéra de Paris (directing by Jean-Louis Barrault, sets by André Masson).
Wozzeck, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Paris, 1963
Office national de radiodiffusion télévision française © INA, 1964 (see the archive)
1964
Works on Éclat for fifteen instruments and completes the first version of Figures Doubles Prismes.
Publication of Penser la musique aujourd’hui, Gonthier editions.
10 January
Creates Figures Doubles Prismes in Basel with the Südwestfunkorchester Baden-Baden.
February-March
First concerts in London, as guest conductor, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, on the initiative of Music Director William Glock.
April-May
Publication of the articles "Nécessité d’une orientation esthétique" (Mercure de France, N°4 and 5) and "Sonate, que me veux-tu ?" (Médiations, N°7).
12 June
First concert at the Berlin Philharmonic, conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker, with Daniel Barenboim appearing at his side for the first time.
17 October
Directs the premiere of Couleurs de la Cité céleste by Olivier Messiaen at the Domaine musical, with Yvonne Loriod at the piano.
Couleurs de la Cité céleste by Messiaen, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Orchestre du Domaine musical, Percussions de Strasbourg, 1966
Office national de radiodiffusion télévision française © INA, 1966 (see the archive)
The same month, he conducts Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Hippolyte et Aricie at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (Paris).
Hippolyte et Aricie, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Orchestre national de l’ORTF, 13 Octobre 1964
© INA, 1964 (see the archive)
Record releases
- Messiaen: Sept Haïkaï ; Schönberg: Kammersymphonie, Drei Orchesterstücke · Orchestre du Domaine musical, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Yvonne Loriod (piano) [Adès]
- Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring, Quatre Études for orchestra · Orchestre national de la RTF, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Guilde internationale du disque]
- Boulez: Le Marteau sans maître · Pierre Boulez (conducting), Jeanne Deroubaix (voice) [Harmonia Mundi]
1965
Completes Éclat and the revision of Le Soleil des eaux (final version).
January
Conducts a series of concerts in Amsterdam, leading the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest.
11 March
First concert with the Cleveland Orchestra, invited by George Szell.
26 March
Creates Éclat in Los Angeles as part of the "Monday Evening Concerts".
April
Directs Maurice Béjart’s choreography of Igor Stravinsky at the Opéra de Paris. At the end of the month, American tour with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Elected Honorary President of the Syndicat des artistes musiciens de Paris.
Summer
Concerts in Amsterdam.
Pierre Boulez rehearsing © Courtesy of the Cleveland Orchestra archives (see the archive)
10 July
Gives conducting lessons at the Basel Musik-Akademie.
Acquires a farmhouse in Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) with his older sister (Jeanne Chevalier).
September
Pierre Boulez retrospective at the Edinburgh Festival. Signs a recording contract with the British branch of CBS.
4 October
Conducts the premiere of the definitive version of Le Soleil des eaux, with Catherine Gayer (soprano) and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Record releases
- Stravinsky: Noces · Chorus and Soloists of the Orchestre du théâtre national de l’Opéra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Guilde internationale du disque]
- Boulez: Le Soleil des eaux; Works by Messiaen and Koechlin · BBC Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [His Master’s Voice]
1966
Embarks on Multiples, a follow-up to Éclat, and plans to transform Marges into a stage work based on works by Antonin Artaud, Henri Michaux, Jean Genet and Stéphane Mallarmé (to read "Music, Literature, Poetry").
March
Publication of Relevés d’apprentis, éditions du Seuil, collection of articles compiled by Paule Thévenin.
20-22 April
Conducts Alban Berg’s Wozzeck at the Frankfurt Opera, directed by Wieland Wagner.
May
Publication of a programmatic article in L’Artiste musicien de Paris on the reform of musical life in France, which he was actively considering in consultation with two senior officials from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Gaëtan Picon and Émile Biasini.
Unfortunately ill, he has to stay in Baden-Baden for the whole of May and had to cancel several concerts he was due to conduct.
At the instigation of Paul Sacher, he considers a project for a musical research institute for the Max-Planck Society in Frankfurt, where he takes part in several preparatory meetings.
25 May
Publication of the article "Pourquoi je dis non à Malraux" (Le Nouvel Observateur), which he had written in protest at Marcel Landowski's appointment as director of the new "music department", created within the Ministry of State for Cultural Affairs. The article marked the end of his relationship with André Malraux, Minister of Cultural Affairs. This led to heavy controversy. Shortly afterwards, Le Nouvel Observateur publishes a declaration of support for Pierre Boulez which is signed by seventy musicians.
Interview with Pierre Boulez, January 1966
Office national de radiodiffusion télévision française © INA, 1966 (see the archive)
Article in the newspaper Candide, 1961 © Bibliothèque nationale de France, département des Arts du spectacle (see archive)
June
Publication of the article "Périforme" (Les Lettres françaises).
25 July-21 August
At the invitation of Wieland Wagner, conducts a production of Parsifal in Bayreuth, which he revives until 1970. This was the first time he had conducted an opera by Wagner.
16 November
Directs the French premiere of Éclat at the Domaine musical.
Record release
Messiaen: Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum, Couleurs de la cité celeste · Orchestre du Domaine musical, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS, Erato].
Pierre Boulez and Olivier Messiaen, 1966 © Jean-Pierre Leloir (see archive)
1967
January
Tour of Prague, Leningrad and Moscow with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
15 March
Conducts his last concert at the Domaine musical and steps down as director. He is succeeded by Gilbert Amy.
31 March-2 April
Conducts Tristan et Isolde by Wagner at the Osaka Festival (Japan) in a production by Wieland Wagner (died in October 1966) and attends performances of noh, bunraku and gagaku.
Summer
Revival of Parsifal in Bayreuth.
Takes holidays at Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire.
Jean Vilar, commissioned by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to propose a reform of the national theatres, asks him to join forces with him for music (and with Maurice Béjart for dance).
25 September
Publication of the interview "Il faut faire sauter les maisons d’opéra" (Der Spiegel).
15 October
Sends Jean Vilar a series of proposals for opera reform in France, stressing in particular the construction of a major opera theatre in Paris and the need to reform French musical life.
Record releases
- Debussy: La Mer, Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune · The New Philharmonia Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Berg: Wozzeck · Chorus and Orchestra of the Théâtre national de l’Opéra de Paris, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Works by Jean-Claude Eloy, Henri Pousseur and Arnold Schönberg · Orchestre du Domaine musical, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Adès]
1968
Draws from his Livre pour quatuor (the composition of which he had suspended) the Livre pour cordes. Revises Figures Doubles Prismes and completes Domaines.
Appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra.
At the beginning of the year, withdraws with Paul Sacher from the Max-Planck Society’s musical research institute project.
March
Premieres the final version of Figures Doubles Prismes (7 March, in Utrecht) with the Residentie Orkest The Hague, with whom he embarks on a tour. Replay in Paris (Salle Pleyel) on 13 March.
Rehearsal of Figures Doubles Prismes, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Residentie Orkest The Hague, 1968
Office national de radiodiffusion télévision française © INA, 1968 (see the archive)
31 May
Following the upheavals caused by the events of May 68, Jean Vilar gives up the project to reform the Opéra de Paris that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs had entrusted to him. However, a final report is due in June.
Summer
Revival of Parsifal in Bayreuth.
20 September
Clarinettist Hans Deinzer premieres the solo clarinet version of Domaines in Ulm.
1st and 8 December
Conducts the premiere of parts 1a and 1b of the Livre pour cordes in Brighton and London, with the New Philharmonia Orchestra.
20 December
Directs the premiere of a first version of Domaines for clarinet and six instrumental groups in Brussels, with Walter Boeykens and the musicians of the RTB Orchestra (Belgian Radio and Television).
Autograph manuscript of Livre pour cordes by Pierre Boulez, 1966-1968 © Courtesy of the Paul Sacher Foundation (see the archive)
Record release
Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta; Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite · BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
1969
Revises Domaines and composes Pour le Dr. Kalmus, a quintet written for Alfred Kalmus’s birthday, director of the London branch of Universal Edition.
January
Appointed head of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (took up post in 1971). Conducts the Los Angeles Orchestra for the first time.
February
Conducts the Chicago Orchestra for the first time.
March
Conducts the New York Orchestra for the first time.
June
Appointed head of the New York Philharmonic (took up his post in 1971). Summer course at the Basel Musik-Akademie.
July
Conducts the Boston Orchestra for the first time.
Pierre Boulez, around 1965 © akg-images / ullstein bild (see archive)
15 August
His father, Léon Boulez, dies at his second home in Amilly (Loiret).
8 September
Complete production of Pour le Dr. Kalmus in Venice by The Pierrot Players.
December
Conducts Claude Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande at Covent Garden (London).
Record releases
- Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Debussy: Images, Danse sacrée et Danse profane · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Berg: Violin Concerto · BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Yehudi Menuhin (violin) [His Master’s Voice]
- Berg: Kammerkonzert · BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Daniel Barenboim (piano), Sachko Gawriloff (violin) [CBS]
- Boulez: Pli selon pli · BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Halina Lukomska (voice) [CBS]
Pli selon pli, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Halina Lukomska (voice), 12 May 1969
Office national de radiodiffusion télévision française © INA, 1969 (see the archive)
1970
Completes the composition of cummings ist der dichter for sixteen voices and orchestra (begun in 1969), and Éclats/Multiples.
Interview with Pierre Boulez, on cummings ist der dichter, 12 January 1971
Radio Télévision belge © INA, 1971 (see the archive)
13 April
L’Express publishes an interview in which he advocates the creation of a music research institute.
Summer
Last revival of Parsifal in Bayreuth. Recording of the opera for Deutsche Grammophon.
Interview with Pierre Boulez and extract from a rehearsal of Parsifal in Bayreuth, 1970
Office national de radiodiffusion télévision française © INA, 1970 (see the archive)
Takes holidays at Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire where he receives an invitation to meet President Georges Pompidou.
Early September
Meets Georges Pompidou, who asks him to draw up a project for a music research institute that he would like to direct, in association with the contemporary art centre in the making (the future Centre Georges Pompidou).
25 September
In Ulm, he premieres cummings ist der dichter with Clytus Gottwald, conducting the Schola Cantorum and members of the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart.
21 October
Directs the London premiere of Éclat/Multiples with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
10 November
Michel Portal (clarinet) and the Musique vivante ensemble, conducted by the composer, perform a revision of Domaines for clarinet and six instrumental groups in Paris (Palais de Chaillot). The work is recorded for Harmonia Mundi (under the direction of Diégo Masson).
December
The project for a music research institute associated with the future Centre Pompidou is confirmed.
Record releases
- Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande · Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Mahler: Das klagende Lied · London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterworks]
- Boulez: Livre pour quatuor · Parrenin Quartet [Erato]
1971
First season as Music Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (1971-1975) and the New York Philharmonic (1971-1977), succeeding Colin Davis and Leonard Bernstein respectively. Over the course of these years, he gives a considerable number of concerts with the two orchestras – in addition to occasional invitations from other ensembles – in programmes combining repertoire, twentieth-century classics and premieres. Numerous recordings have been released, several of which have won awards on both sides of the Atlantic.
Interview with Pierre Boulez and rehearsal with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, 1971
Office national de radiodiffusion télévision française © INA, 1971 (see the archive)
Works on the project for the future Ircam and puts together a team of collaborators.
6 April
Igor Stravinsky dies in New York.
15 April
First concert with the New York Philharmonic as musical director.
May
Publication of the article "Style ou idée ?" (The Saturday Review).
June-July
European tour with the London Sinfonietta (Vienna, Amsterdam, Florence, Rome, La Grange de Meslay), which he performs as a courtesy in order to launch this newly formed ensemble.
1st October
In New York, the first of the "Prospective Encounters", a series of concerts dedicated to contemporary music.
First "Prospective Encounters", 1st October 1971 © Whitestone Photo, courtesy of the NY Phil Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives(see the archive)
Record releases
- Debussy: Nocturnes, Printemps, Rhapsodie pour clarinette · New Philharmonia Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterworks]
- Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Wagner: Parsifal · Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
1972
Begins work on a piece for orchestra that will become Rituel – in memoriam Bruno Maderna.
February
In tribute to Stravinsky (died the previous year), publication of "Afin d’évoquer Igor Stravinsky – de conjurer son absence" (Tempo, n° 98), a musical matrix from which the various versions of …explosante-fixe… will emerge.
17 June
A first version of …explosante-fixe… (for flute, clarinet and trumpet) is premiered in London by members of the London Sinfonietta.
Record releases
- Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterworks]
- Stravinsky: Petrouchka · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterworks]
- Ravel: Concerto pour la main gauche · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Philippe Entremont (piano) [Columbia Masterworks]
Pierre Boulez conducting Philippe Entremont and the New York Philharmonic, 1970s © Courtesy of the NY Phil Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives (see the archive)
1973
5 January
Creates a second version of …explosante-fixe… (for solo flute, clarinet, trumpet, harp, vibraphone, violin, viola, cello and Live electronics) in New York. The electronic part was produced in the Heinrich Strobel Studio at the SWF.
June
The first series of "Rug Concerts" in New York, which he had conceived to broaden the audience for symphony concerts.
"Informal evening" with Elliott Carter, 1974 © Henry Grossman, courtesy of the NY Phil Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives (see the archive)
21 October
Conducts an extended performance of the second version of …explosante-fixe… in Donaueschingen.
Interview with Pierre Boulez on …explosante-fixe…, October 1973
Office national de radiodiffusion télévision française © INA, 1973 (see the archive)
13 November
The composer Bruno Maderna dies in Darmstadt.
Record releases
- Bartók: Concerto for orchestra · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Ravel: Tombeau de Couperin, Valses nobles · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Wagner: Overtures · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Boulez: Le Marteau sans maître, Livre pour cordes · New Philharmonia Orchestra, Ensemble Musique Vivante, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Yvonne Minton (voice) [CBS]
1974
Composes a score for voice and instrumental ensemble for a play by Jean-Louis Barrault based on Nietzsche (Ainsi parlait Zarathoustra).
Acquires a flat in Paris at 25, quai André-Citroën, in the 15th arrondissement, on the 30th floor of the Tour Perspective 2.
7 March
The official birth of Ircam is announced at a press conference and the project is presented. As the institute did not yet have its own buildings, its first events were hosted at the Théâtre d’Orsay (Paris) by the Compagnie Renaud-Barrault.
2 April
President Georges Pompidou dies in Paris. Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, an opponent of the Centre Pompidou project, becomes President of the Republic and appoints Jacques Chirac as Prime Minister, who will actively support the creation of the Centre Pompidou and Ircam.
Pierre Boulez, 1970s © Courtesy of the NY Phil Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives (see the archive)
6 July
Directs the current version of …explosante-fixe… at the Rencontres internationales d’art contemporain de La Rochelle.
8-13 July
Seminar at Notre-Dame de Sénanque abbey on music and technology, in preparation for the opening of Ircam.
September
Tour of Japan with the New York Philharmonic.
Pierre Boulez rehearsing with Christa Ludwig and the New York Philharmonic, 1974 © Christian Steiner, courtesy of the NY Phil Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives (see the archive)
8 November
The Compagnie Renaud-Barrault presents a stage adaptation of Ainsi parlait Zarathoustra.
1975
Finishes composing Rituel – in memoriam Bruno Maderna.
January
Publication of Par volonté et par hasard : entretiens avec Célestin Deliège, éditions du Seuil.
March
At the suggestion of Emmanuel Leroy-Ladurie and Michel Foucault, he is appointed professor at the Collège de France, with the chair of "Invention, technique and language in music".
2 April
Directs the London premiere of Rituel – in memoriam Bruno Maderna with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
June
Leaves his post as Music Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The conductor is now a guest of major American and European orchestras.
September
Tour of Europe with the New York Philharmonic.
Prospective Encounters: Pierre Boulez with Jon Deak and the New York Philharmonic, 1976 © Johan Elbers, courtesy of the NY Phil Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives (see the archive)
Autumn
Work begins on the Ircam building. Set up in temporary premises, the institute moves to several cities (Brussels, Grenoble, Angers).
La Musique en projet is published by Gallimard, presenting the Ircam project, with two articles by Pierre Boulez ("Donc on remet en question" and "Perspective-Prospective").
Record releases
- Schönberg: Gurre-Lieder · BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterwork]
- Schönberg: Moses and Aaron · BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Ravel: La Valse, Ma Mère l’Oye · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterwork]
- Stravinsky: The Firebird · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterwork]
1976
Composes a piece for cello, Messagesquisse (originally a request from Mstislav Rostropovitch, for Paul Sacher’s 70th birthday).
Officially takes over as director of Ircam and founds the Ensemble intercontemporain, devoted to musical creation, of which he is President. Entrusts the musical direction of the instrumental ensemble to Michel Tabachnik.
Extract from rehearsal with the Ensemble intercontemporain and interviews, 1977
Télévision Française 1 © INA, 1977 (see the archive)
5 January
Conducts the Orchestre de Paris for the first time, ten years after its creation.
July
At the invitation of Wolfgang Wagner, he directs a new production of the Tetralogy in Bayreuth to mark the centenary of the work’s creation (directed by Patrice Chéreau, costumes by Richard Peduzzi). The production, which was revived five years in a row to great acclaim, initially caused a scandal.
10 December
Inaugural lecture at the Collège de France.
That same month, first concerts by the Ensemble intercontemporain at the Théâtre National Populaire (TNP) in Villeurbanne.
Had an architect’s house built by Odette Ducarre on the land of the Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire farmhouse he had bought in 1965 with his elder sister.
Record releases
- Bartók: Bluebeard’s Castle · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Dukas: La Péri; Roussel: Symphony n° 3 · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterworks]
- De Falla: The Three-Cornered Hat, Concerto for harpsichord · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterworks]
1977
January
Ircam, whose building is currently under construction, offers a series of concerts ("Passage du XXe siècle") given outside its premises by various orchestras, several of which are under its management.
31 January
Inauguration of the Centre Pompidou.
June
Leaves his post as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic.
July
Returns to Bayreuth for the Tetralogy, which is well received.
3 July
Michel Tabachnik and Pierre Penassou (solo cello) create Messagesquisse at the Rencontres Internationales d’art contemporain de La Rochelle.
Autograph manuscript of Messagesquisse by Pierre Boulez, 1976 © Courtesy of the Paul Sacher Foundation (see the archive)
August
Inauguration of the Ircam premises designed by Renzo Piano, Richard Rodgers et Gianfranco Franchini.
Record releases
- Schönberg: Transfigured Night; Berg: Lyric Suite · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS Masterworks]
- Bartók: The Wooden Prince · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS Masterworks]
- Varèse: Amériques, Arcana, Ionisation · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS Masterworks]
1978
Begins the orchestral version of Notations pour piano.
February
"Le temps musical" cycle at Ircam (see the archives).
Summer
Conducts the Tetralogy in Bayreuth.
Pierre Boulez and Patrice Chéreau rehearsing in Bayreuth © akg-images / picture-alliance (see the archive)
Record releases
- Webern: Complete works · Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterworks]
- Schönberg: A Survivor from Warsaw, Variations for orchestra · BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS Masterworks]
- Schönberg: Pierrot lunaire · Pierre Boulez (conducting), Yvonne Minton (voice) [CBS Masterworks]
- Stravinsky: Pulcinella · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterworks]
- Berg: Chamber music · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Daniel Barenboim (piano), Pinchas Zukerman (violin) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Berlioz: Les Nuits d’été, La Mort de Cléopâtre · BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Yvonne Minton and Stuart Burrows (voice) [Columbia Masterworks]
1979
24 February
Conducts the world premiere of Alban Berg’s Lulu at the Opéra de Paris (three-act version by Friedrich Cerha, directed by Patrice Chéreau).
Summer
Conducts the Tetralogy in Bayreuth.
Receives the Ernst-von-Siemens Prize. He is made a Knight of the British Empire.
Record releases
- Berg: Lulu · Orchestre de l’Opéra de Paris, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Ravel: Symphonic works · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS Masterworks]
- Berg: Der Wein, suite from Lulu · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Jessye Norman (voix) [CBS Masterworks]
Pierre Boulez in rehearsal © Ircam, courtesy of the NY Phil Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives (see the archive)
1980
Completes the first four Notations pour orchestre. Begins work on Répons which he continues to compose in subsequent years. The work is commissioned by the Südwestfunkorchester Baden-Baden, for the Donaueschinger Musiktage.
18 June
Paris premiere of Notations I-IV for orchestra by Daniel Barenboim and the Orchestre de Paris.
Notations for orchestra, Daniel Barenboim (conducting), Orchestre de Paris, Salle Pleyel, 14 October 1981
Télévision Française 1 © INA, 1981 (see the archive)
Summer
Triumph in Bayreuth for the last performances of the Tetralogy with Patrice Chéreau and Richard Peduzzi. Philips records and films the production.
Record release
Carter: A Symphony of Three Orchestras · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Columbia Masterworks].
1981
May
Ircam and the Ensemble intercontemporain hold a series of concerts and workshops at Radio France, entitled "L’œil et l’oreille".
Publication of the article "L’écriture du musicien : le regard du sourd ?" (Critique, N°408).
September
Pierre Boulez retrospective at the Festival d’Automne (Paris).
18 October
Directs the premiere of Répons in Donaueschingen, with the musicians of the Ensemble intercontemporain. This was the first time he had used the 4X developed by Ircam.
Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen at Ircam, 1983 © Marion Kalter (see the archive)
Autumn
Points de repère, a collection of essays compiled by Jean-Jacques Nattiez, is published by Christian Bourgois.
Record releases
- Wagner: Tetralogy · Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Philips]
- Stravinsky: Melodies · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Boulez: Trois Sonates pour piano · Claude Helffer (piano) [Astrée]
1982
Continues composing Répons and begins a new version of the Troisième Improvisation sur Mallarmé, as welle as Dialogue de l’ombre double, for Luciano Berio’s birthday.
6 September
Second premiere of Répons in London, with the musicians of the Ensemble intercontemporain. It’s twice as long as the first version.
Poster for the French premiere of Répons, 1981 © Archives de l’Ensemble intercontemporain (see the archive)
Record releases
- Schönberg: Die glückliche Hand, Serenade op. 24 · BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS Masterworks]
- Mahler and Wagner: Lieder · London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Yvonne Minton (voice) [CBS Masterworks]
- Stravinsky: Pulcinella, L’Histoire du soldat, Le Chant du rossignol, Ebony Concerto · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Erato]
1983
Continues to work on Répons and completes the new version of the Troisième Improvisation sur Mallarmé.
Record releases
- Ligeti: Kammerkonzert · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Boulez: Rituel, Éclat/Multiples · BBC Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
- Boulez: Pli selon pli · BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Phyllis Bryn-Julson (voice) [Erato]
Pierre Boulez and György Ligeti at Ircam, 1982 © Jean-Pierre Leloir (see the archive)
1984
New additions to Répons. He composes Dérive 1 for the birthday of William Glock, musical director of the Bath International Music Festival, and revises Notations I-IV for orchestra.
9 January
Conducts a Frank Zappa programme with the Ensemble intercontemporain at the Théâtre de la Ville (Paris), recorded (on the 10th) under the title The Perfect Stranger [EMI].
23 February
Pli selon pli is performed in London, with the new version of the Troisième Improvisation (with Phyllis Bryn-Julson and the BBC Symphony Orchestra).
April
Since returning to Paris, he had been campaigning for the construction of a music centre combining a conservatory, opera house, concert halls, museum and library, and was appointed artistic advisor to the mission for the Opéra Bastille.
22 September
Premiere in Turin of the third and final version of Répons (by the same performers as before). The work now lasts 45 minutes.
Record releases
- Ravel: Melodies · BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS Masterworks]
- Varèse: Ecuatorial, Déserts, Intégrales… · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS Masterworks]
- Kurtág: Message de feu Demoiselle R.V. Troussova; Birtwistle: … agm… · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Erato].
1985
Completes Dialogue de l’ombre double and composes Mémoriale (…explosante-fixe… Originel). He revises the Douze Notations pour piano with a view to publishing the score with Universal Edition.
Autograph manuscript of Mémoriale by Pierre Boulez, 1985 © Courtesy of the Paul Sacher Foundation (see the archive)
Publication in German of sections (previously unpublished in French) of Penser la musique aujourd’hui, under the title Musikdenken heute 2 (in the journal Darmstädter Beiträge zur Neuen Musik).
31 January
Oliver Knussen and the London Sinfonietta premiere Dérive 1 in London.
29 March-1st April
Boulez Festival organised by Südwestfunk Baden-Baden, to mark the composer’s 60th birthday.
31 March
In Darmstadt, the Parrenin Quartet premieres the complete version (without Part IV) of the Livre pour quatuor.
31 May
Awarded the Léonie Sonning prize for his work at a concert in Copenhagen.
10 June
His mother, Marcelle, née Calabre, died in Roanne (Loire), where she had been living for several years with her daughter Jeanne.
9 July
Appointed vice-president of the Opéra Bastille prefiguration structure.
Octobre
The Centre Pompidou organises an exhibition on "Klee et la musique", which inspires his first text on the painter.
28 October
Dialogue de l’ombre double is premiered in Florence by Alain Damiens (clarinet).
28 November
Premiere of Mémoriale in Nanterre (Théâtre des Amandiers), by Sophie Cherrier (flute) and the musicians of the Ensemble intercontemporain, conducted by the composer.
Record release
Schönberg: Transfigured Night · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Sony].
1986
Produces a new version of cummings ist der dichter, a version of …explosante-fixe… for vibraphone and electronics, and works on the final version of Le Visage nuptial which will keep him occupied until 1989.
Opening of the Paul Sacher Foundation in Basel, with which he signs a contract to donate his musical manuscripts.
Publication of Éclats/Boulez, éditions du Centre Pompidou.
Tour of the United States with the Ensemble intercontemporain and Ircam (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, New York). Répons is premiered in each of these cities. He returns to the great American orchestras, which he has not conducted since 1977.
Portrait of Pierre Boulez © Courtesy of the Cleveland Orchestra archives (see the archive)
23 September
Directs the premiere of the new version of cummings ist der dichter in Strasbourg (Festival Musica), with the Stockholms Kammarkör and the Ensemble intercontemporain.
December
Publication of the article "Le système et l’idée" (InHarmoniques, N°1).
Record releases
- Berg: Violin Concerto · London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Pinchas Zukerman (violon) [CBS]
- Berio: Sinfonia · Orchestre national de France, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Erato]
- Schönberg: Violin Concerto op. 36, Piano Concerto op. 42 · London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Pierre Amoyal (violin), Peter Serkin (piano) [Erato]
1987
Composes Initiale, fanfare for seven brass instruments, commissioned by the Menil Collection Museum of Modern Art in Houston.
New revision of Notations I-IV for orchestra and revision of Rituel – in memoriam Bruno Maderna.
Presents Fragment d’une ébauche, a short piece for piano, to Jean-Marie Lehn, professor at the Collège de France, in honour of his Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
Pierre Boulez and Iannis Xenakis, 1987 © Jean-Pierre Leloir (see the archive)
January-May
Lectures at the Collège de France on "Les systèmes discrets" au Collège de France, associated with the course "Le système et l’idée".
26-31 January
Concerts to mark the tenth anniversary of the Ensemble intercontemporain at the Centre Pompidou.
4 June
Houston premiere of Initiale, for seven brass instruments, by the Choralis Brass.
10 June
Visits the construction site of the Opéra Bastille with President Mitterrand and architect Carlos Ott.
30 July
Nommé membre du conseil d’administration de l’association de préfiguration de l’Opéra de la Bastille.
November
For the fiftieth anniversary of Maurice Ravel’s death, he produced a score for an ensemble of Frontispice, which he presented to François Lesure, director of the music department at the Bibliothèque nationale, on the occasion of his retirement.
Record releases
- Ligeti and Donatoni · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Erato]
- Stravinsky: The Firebird, Song of the Nightingale · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [CBS]
1988
Composes Dérive 2 dedicated to Elliott Carter for his 80th birthday, and revises the Livre pour cordes.
March
Publication of the article "Entre ordre et chaos" (InHarmoniques, N°3).
July
Gives conducting lessons at the Centre Acanthes in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, where he is guest composer.
11 July. Performance of Répons at the Festival d’Avignon (Boulbon quarry).
Extract from rehearsal of Répons and interview with Pierre Boulez, July 1988, Avignon
France Régions 3 © INA, 1988 (see the archive)
September
Publication of the article "La vestale et le voleur de feu" (InHarmoniques, N°4).
Record release
Messiaen: Sept Haïkaï, Couleurs de la Cité céleste, Un vitrail · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Erato].
1989
New orchestration of Don, the first piece in Pli selon pli (which is the definitive version). Completes the final version of Le Visage nuptial.
Signs an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon for a long-term programme, to be released three years later.
Publication of:
- Jalons (pour une décennie) : dix ans d’enseignement au Collège de France, Christian Bourgois éditeur
- Le Pays fertile : Paul Klee, text prepared and presented by Paule Thévenin, éditions Gallimard
January
Resigns from the board of directors of the public establishment in charge of building the Opéra Bastille and from the prefiguration association of the Opéra Bastille, following the dismissal of Daniel Barenboim.
1st February
Publicly expresses his disagreement with the new governance of the Opéra de Paris in an article entitled "La Bastille : populaire ou culinaire ?" published in Le Monde.
Pierre Boulez at Ircam, 1991 © Marion Kalter (see the archive)
27 May
Performs the new version of the Livre pour cordes in Los Angeles, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
13 July
Inauguration of the Opéra Bastille by French President François Mitterrand.
16 November
Premiere in Metz of the definitive version of Le Visage nuptial, with Phyllis Bryn-Julson (soprano), Elisabeth Laurence (contralto) and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The work is recorded the same month in London, along with Le Soleil des eaux.
End of the yeare
Awarded the Imperial Japanese Prize.
Record release
Boulez: Le Marteau sans maître · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Elizabeth Laurence (voice) [CBS].
1990
Tours the USSR with the Ensemble intercontemporain and Ircam.
Poster of a concert with the Ensemble intercontemporain in URSS, 21 February 1990 © Archives de l’Ensemble intercontemporain (see the archive)
Publication of Pierre Boulez et John Cage, Correspondance et documents, éditions Amadeus.
18 April
Peter Eötvös and soprano Tuula-Maria Tuomela perform Pli selon pli in Helsinki, with the new version of Don.
21 June
Creates Dérive 2 in Milan, with the musicians of the Ensemble intercontemporain.
7 December
Inauguration of the new buildings of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse, designed by Christian de Portzamparc, on the La Villette site. Boulez was only indirectly involved in this new establishment, which nevertheless represents the first stage of the future Cité de la Musique.
Record releases
- Schönberg: Choral works · BBC Singers, BBC Chorus, BBC Symphonie Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Sony]
- Boulez: Le Visage nuptial, Le Soleil des eaux, Figures Doubles Prismes · BBC Singers, BBC Symphonie Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Phyllis Bryn-Julson et Elisabeth Laurence (voice) [Erato]
- Boulez: Notations I-IV, Rituel, Messagesquisse · Orchestre de Paris, Daniel Barenboim (conducting) [Erato]
Pierre Boulez in concert, 1990 © akg-images / Interfoto (see the archive)
1991
Composes Anthèmes, for solo violin, as well as the first part ("Transitoire VII") of …explosante-fixe… for flute with live electronics, two solo flutes and ensemble.
Awarded an honorary doctorate by the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt.
26 April
Conducts the premiere of his orchestration of Maurice Ravel’s Frontispice in Paris (Théâtre du Châtelet, Ensemble intercontemporain).
18 November
Irvine Arditti premieres Anthèmes for solo violin at a concert in Vienna in homage to Alfred Schlee.
Record releases
- Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin · New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Sony]
- Boulez: cummings ist der dichter, Dérive, Mémoriale… · Ensemble intercontemporain, BBC Singers, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Erato]
1992
Revises Anthèmes.
Leaves Ircam management. Laurent Bayle takes over.
February-April
Conducts Claude Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande (directed by Peter Stein) at the Welsh National Opera in Cardiff, then at the Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris).
August
Guest composer and conductor at the Salzburg Festival, where he is a regular feature. He conducted the Austrian premiere of Répons, as well as The Rite of Spring with the Wiener Philharmoniker.
October
The new version of Anthèmes is played by the competitors in the Yehudi Menuhin Competition.
19 November
Conducts in Chicago a Fanfare for Georg Solti’s 80th birthday, a reworking of Initiale (1987) that he created for the occasion.
Pierre Boulez conducting the New York Philharmonic, 7 December 1992 © Henry Grossman, courtesy of the NY Phil Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives (see the archive)
Record releases
- Schönberg: Pelleas und Melisande, Variations op. 31 · Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Erato]
- Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring, Petrouchka · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
1993
Composes two new parts ("Originel" and "Transitoire V") of …explosante-fixe…
Concerts and recordings with the Berliner Philharmoniker, which he had not conducted since 1965. European tour with the London Symphony Orchestra.
13 September
A version of …explosante-fixe… in two movements ("Transitoire VII" and "Mémoriale") is performed in Turin by Pierre-André Valade (solo flute) and the Ensemble intercontemporain, conducted by David Robertson, as the first leg of a tour of Europe by Ircam and the Ensemble intercontemporain (Turin, Parma, Cologne, Brussels, Strasbourg).
11 November
Premiere of the three-movement version of …explosante-fixe… in New York (Carnegie Hall), conducted by the composer.
Record releases
- Bartók: Concerto for orchestra… · Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Stravinsky: The Firebird… · Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
1994
Final revision of Anthèmes for solo violin.
Composes Incises for piano, for the Umberto Micheli Piano Competition in Milan, at the request of Luciano Berio and Maurizio Pollini.
Pierre Boulez in rehearsal with Luciano Berio, 1989 © Marion Kalter (see the archive)
April-May
Conducts in Los Angeles (Wagner, Schönberg, Bartók, Ravel, Debussy), Vienna (Mahler, Berg), Berlin (Stravinsky, Ravel).
August-September
Conducts at the Salzburg Festival, Edinburgh and Berlin.
21 October
Incises is performed by the candidates of the Umberto Micheli Competition (winner: Gianluca Cascioli).
November-December
Conducts in Cleveland and Chicago.
Record releases
- Ligeti: Concertos for cello, for violin and for piano · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Ravel: Bolero, Ma Mère l’Oye… · Berliner Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon
1995
Resumes and expands on Incises.
Appointed principal guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and leaves the presidency of the Ensemble intercontemporain, of which he becomes honorary president.
Publication of a new revised and expanded edition of Points de repère, Christian Bourgois éditeur.
Last lecture at the Collège de France.
Acquires the house in Baden-Baden, which he has rented since 1960.
12 January
Inauguration of the Cité de la Musique in Paris by President François Mitterrand, a project for which Boulez had been campaigning since the early 1980s but which only partially met his expectations. The institution becomes the residence of the Ensemble intercontemporain.
Interview with Pierre Boulez on the Cité de la musique, 1995
France 2, Cité des sciences et de l’industrie de la Villette © INA, 1995 (see the archive)
January-May
International tour (London, Paris, Chicago, New York, Vienna, Tokyo) with the Ensemble intercontemporain and the London Symphony Orchestra, with the participation of prestigious soloists (Daniel Barenboim, Gidon Kremer, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Jessye Norman, Maurizio Pollini).
4 February
Pianist Dimitri Vassilakis premieres an expanded version of Incises in Caen.
19 May-1st June
Pierre Boulez Festival in Tokyo, where he conducts eight programmes.
August-October
Conducts Schönberg’s Moses and Aaron (directed by Peter Stein) at the Salzburg Festival, then at the Amsterdam Opera.
Record releases
- Mahler: Symphony N°6 · Wiener Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Berg: Lieder · London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Jessye Norman (voice) [Sony]
- Debussy: La Mer, Nocturnes… · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Messiaen: Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum… · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Webern: Second Complete works (vol. 1 and 2) · Ensemble intercontemporain, BBC Singers, Berliner Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
Pierre Boulez in concert, Severance Hall, Cleveland © Peter Hastings, courtesy of the Cleveland Orchestra archives (see the archive)
1996
Begins work on sur Incises, to be completed in 1998.
Offers Courtes dérives à partir d’Éclat (several pages for solo piano) to the pianist Gloria Cheng, on the occasion of her wedding.
Awarded the Polar Music Prize.
27 April
Directs the partial premiere of sur Incises, with soloists from the Ensemble intercontemporain, for Paul Sacher’s 90th birthday.
August
Conducts Schönberg’s Moses and Aaron at the Salzburg Festival.
21-22 September
Conducts Anton Bruckner’s Symphony N°8 at Saint-Florian Abbey (Linz), with the Wiener Philharmoniker, for the centenary of the Austrian composer’s death.
Record releases
- Mahler: Symphony N°7 · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Schönberg: Moses and Aaron · Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Webern: Second Complete works (vol. 3) · BBC Singers, Berliner Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
Pierre Boulez with Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur and Stephen Stamas, around 1992 © Courtesy of the NY Phil Shelby White & Leon Levy Digital Archives (see the archive)
1997
Gives Anthèmes an electronically expanded version entitled Anthèmes 2.
Undertakes Notations VII for orchestra.
Continues composing sur Incises.
30 January-9 February
Conducts at the Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris) a theatrical production combining Stravinsky’s The Nightingale and Schönberg’s Pierrot lunaire, with Natalie Dessay and the Orchestre de Paris (directed by Stanislas Nordey).
19 October
Premiere of Anthèmes 2 in Donaueschingen, by Hae-Sun Kang (violin) and Andrew Gerszo (electronics).
Record releases
- Berlioz: La Symphonie fantastique, Tristia · Cleveland Orchestra & Chorus, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Mahler: Symphony N°5 · Wiener Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Messiaen: Poèmes pour Mi, Sept Haïkaï, Réveil des oiseaux · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
1998
Finishes sur Incises.
For Elliott Carter’s 90th birthday, composes Petite dérive – en écho, for alto flute, clarinet, vibraphone, marimba, violin, viola. The facsimile of the manuscript was published in the December issue of Tempo.
Publication of Pierre Boulez et André Schaeffner, Correspondance (1954-1970), éditions Fayard.
March
Tour with the London Symphony Orchestra (London, Madrid, Paris, Brussels).
April
Conducts Stockhausen’s Gruppen in Paris and Brussels, with David Robertson and Peter Eötvös. Directs in Cleveland and Chicago.
Gruppen, Pierre Boulez, David Robertson, Péter Eötvös (conducting), Cité de la musique, 3 April 1998
© Cité de la musique – Philharmonie de Paris(see the archive)
July
Conducts Bluebeard’s Castle by Bartók at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence (directed by Pina Bausch). Gives a series of masterclasses.
Interview with Pierre Boulez on Bluebeard’s Castle, 24 July 1998
Radio France © INA, 1998 (see the archive)
30 August
David Robertson and the Ensemble intercontemporain premiere the final version of sur Incises at the Edinburgh Festival.
October-December
Conducts in Vienna, Frankfurt, Basel, Milan, Rome, Chicago.
22 October
Directs the final version of sur Incises in Basel, in the presence of Paul Sacher.
Record releases
- Bartók: Bluebeard’s Castle · Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Mahler: Symphony N°9 · Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Ravel: Piano Concertos, Valses nobles et sentimentales · Cleveland Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Krystian Zimerman (piano) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Schönberg: Pierrot lunaire · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Christine Schäfer (voice) [Deutsche Grammophon]
1999
14 January
Daniel Barenboim premieres Notations VII in Chicago, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
26 May
Paul Sacher dies in Basel. Pierre Boulez attends the donor’s funeral.
Record releases
- Bartók: Violin Concerto N°2, Rhapsodies N°1 and 2 · Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Gil Shaham (violin) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Strauss: Thus Spoke Zarathustra · Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Mahler: Symphony N°1 · Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms, Symphonies of Wind Instruments… · Berliner Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Boulez: Répons · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
2000
Revises the Livre pour quatuor for the recording of the work by the Parisii Quartet.
The "Boulez 2000" tour with the London Symphony Orchestra. In eight months, he conducts thirty-three concerts in eleven European cities (London, Vienna, Paris, Salzburg, etc.), as well as in New York.
July
Conducting masterclasses at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.
October
Conducts the Orchestre de Paris for Bartabas’s equestrian show at the Théâtre Zingaro, "Triptyk" (The Rite of Spring, Dialogue de l’ombre double and the Symphony of Psalms).
Record releases
- Bruckner: Symphony N°8 · Wiener Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Boulez: sur Incises, Messagesquisse, Anthèmes 2 · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Hae-Sun Kang (violin) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Boulez: Livre pour quatuor · Parisii Quartet [Assai]
2001
Resumes Incises and extends it.
23 March
The new version of Incises is premiered in Hamburg by the pianist Dimitri Vassilakis.
June
Béla Bartók cycle in Paris (Théâtre du Châtelet), in Spain and in Italy, with the Orchestre de Paris.
29 July
Conducts Bruckner’s Symphony N°9 at the Salzburg Festival with the Vienna Wiener Philharmonic.
Record release
Schönberg: Piano Concerto · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Mitsuko Uchida (piano) [Philips]
2002
Revises and extends Dérive 2.
14 September
Composer in residence at the Lucerne Festival, where he conducts the new version of Dérive 2 with the Ensemble intercontemporain.
Record releases
- Ravel: Shéhérazade, Le Tombeau de Couperin; Debussy: Ballades de Villon · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Anne Sofie von Otter (voice) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde · Wiener Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Boulez: Pli selon pli · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Christine Schäfer (voice) [Deutsche Grammophon]
2003
7 July
At the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, conducts El retablo de maese Pedro by Falla, Renard by Stravinsky and Pierrot lunaire by Schönberg with soprano Anja Silja, in a theatrical production entitled Triptyque (directed by Klaus Michael Grüber), revived at the Vienna Festwochen.
23-24 August
Conducts at the Salzburg Festival (Mahler, Webern).
27 August-6 September
In Lucerne, for concerts and conducting courses as a prelude to an academy founded the following year.
Record release
Mahler: Symphony N°3 · Wiener Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophno]
2004
Revises Notations VII for orchestra.
July
Returns to Bayreuth for Parsifal (directed by Christoph Schlingensief), which he reprises the following year.
Creates the Lucerne Festival Academy, dedicated to welcoming young orchestral musicians each year to train in the contemporary repertoire. He will return to Lucerne every summer from now on.
Record release
Harrison Birtwistle: Theseus Game… · Ensemble Modern, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
2005
80th birthday: numerous tributes around the world. Honorary member of the Vienna Philharmonic.
Pierre Boulez conducting the Manhattan School of Music Orchestra, 2005 © Marion Kalter (see the archive)
Composes Une page d’éphéméride for Universal Edition’s Piano Project teaching volume (Anne-Lise Gastaldi and Valérie Haluk).
Resumes Pour le Dr. K., the score of which is published under the modified title Improvisé – pour le Dr. K.
Publication of Regards sur autrui (Points de repère II) and Leçons de musique : deux décennies d’enseignement au Collège de France (Points de repère III), Christian Bourgois éditeur.
March
He goes to Berlin for a series of concerts organised for his birthday. Appointed "Ehrendirigent" of the Staatskapelle.
July
Conducts Parsifal in Bayreuth for the last time.
End of summer
He goes to Lucerne, for the Academy.
Record releases
- Bartók: Piano Concertos · London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Krystian Zimerman, Leif Ove Andsnes and Hélène Grimaud (piano) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Mahler: Lieder · Wiener Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Thomas Quasthoff, Violeta Urmana and Anne Sofie von Otter (voice) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Boulez: Dérive 1 & 2, Le Marteau sans maître · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Hilary Summers (voice) [Deutsche Grammophon]
2006
Resumes and completes Dérive 2.
Named conductor emeritus of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Awarded the Polar Music Prize.
13 July
Repeats Triptyque (2005) at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence with the Ensemble intercontemporain and Anja Silja.
August
Conducts at the Festival de Salzbourg.
End of summer
He goes to Lucerne, for the Academy.
Pierre Boulez in Aix-en-Provence, July 2006 © Jean Radel (see the archive)
Record release
Mahler: Symphony N°2 · Wiener Singverein, Wiener Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
2007
Produces an orchestral version of his transcription of Ravel’s Frontispice.
April
Complete Mahler at the Staatskapelle Berlin, under his direction and that of Daniel Barenboim.
May-July
Directs From the House of the Dead by Leoš Janáček (directed by Patrice Chéreau), in Vienna, Amsterdam, Aix-en-Provence.
From the House of the Dead by Janáček at the Theater an der Wien, 2007 © Marion Kalter (see the archive)
Record release
Mahler: Symphony N°8 · Chor der Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
2008
4 February
Gaspard Dehaene creates Une page d’éphéméride in Paris.
August
Conducts at the Salzburg Festival.
November
« Grand invité » of the Musée du Louvre, which is devoting the exhibition "Boulez – Œuvre : fragments" to him. The catalogue appears co-published with Gallimard.
Pierre Boulez at the Louvre Auditorium, 2008 © Jean Radel (see the archive)
Record releases
- Bartó: Concertos · London Symphony Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Berg: Kammerkonzert · Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Mitsuko Uchida (piano), Christian Tetzlaff (violin) [Decca]
2009
January
Composer in residence at the Mozartwoche (Salzburg).
May
Complete Gustav Mahler at Carnegie Hall (New York), with Daniel Barenboim.
13 September
Susanna Mälkki and the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie premiere the orchestral version of Frontispice in Cologne.
Pierre Boulez and Susanna Mälkki, 2009 © Jean Radel (see the archive)
31 October
Travels to Montbrison, his hometown, for the inauguration of the Pierre Boulez Music Centre.
3 November
Falls at Roissy airport, breaking his collarbone and several ribs. He nevertheless continues to give concerts at La Scala in Milan and Salle Pleyel in Paris.
11 November
He goes to Japan to receive the Kyoto Prize.
2010
Revises Initiale for Universal.
Concerts in Paris, Vienna and Chicago. Suffering from glaucoma in his left eye, he undergoes surgery and has to cancel several concerts.
Record releases
- Mahler: Das Knaben Wunderhorn · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Magdalena Kožená (voice) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Ravel: Piano Concertos · Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Karol Szymanowski: Violin Concerto N°1, Symphony N°3 · Wiener Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Christian Tetzlaff (violin) [Deutsche Grammophon]
2011
Revises the Livre pour cordes.
June
Travels to Montbrison where he supervises the recording of three of his works conducted by Daniel Kawka.
20 June
The Adenauer-de Gaulle Prize is awarded jointly to Kurt Masur and Pierre Boulez.
July
Conducts at the Salzburg Festival.
Pierre Boulez at the Salzburg Festival, 2011 © Marion Kalter (see the archive)
August
Goes to Lucerne to direct the Festival Academy.
September-October
European tour (Turin, Milan, Amsterdam, Paris, Munich, London) with the musicians of the Lucerne Festival Academy and the Ensemble intercontemporain to perform Pli selon pli with Barbara Hannigan.
Pli selon pli, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Ensemble intercontemporain, Barbara Hannigan, Salle Pleyel, 2011
© Cité de la musique – Philharmonie de Paris (see the archive)
Record releases
- Mahler: Das klagenden Lied; Berg: Lulu-Suite · Wiener Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez (conducting) [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Lisz: Piano Concertos · Staatskapelle Berlin, Pierre Boulez (conducting), Daniel Barenboim (piano) [Deutsche Grammophon]
2012
Works on Notation VIII pour orchestre which remained unfinished, and again revised the Livre pour quatuor for the Diotima Quartet.
28 January
His last concert appearance is in Salzburg with the Vienna Philharmonic and pianist Mitsuko Uchida.
February-March
Travels to Cleveland and Chicago for several concerts, which he cancels for health reasons.
August
He is present one last time in Lucerne, for the Academy. He conducts some rehearsals but was unable to conduct in concert.
Pierre Boulez and Barbara Hannigan, 2011 © Jean Radel (see the archive)
2013
As his health continues to deteriorate, he cancels all his planned concerts, staying most of the time in Baden-Baden.
2 April
He takes part in a seminar at the Collège de France organised by Antoine Compagnon on the theme of "La composition chez Proust" (to read "Music, Literature, Poetry").
August-September
Last appearance at the Lucerne Festival. Artistic director but unable to conduct the scheduled concerts.
Record release
- "Pierre Boulez: Œuvres complètes – Complete Works" [Deutsche Grammophon, 13 CD], Pierre Boulez supervised the production of the box set.
- Mahler: Complete symphonies and lieder with orchestra, recorded in 1994 and 2011 [Deutsche Grammophone]
2014
Mostly in Baden-Baden.
2015
90th birthday. His state of health no longer allows him to appear in public.
14 January
Opening of the Philharmonie de Paris, for which he was a tireless campaigner. The Philharmonie devotes a major exhibition to him. Very weak, he was unable to take part in the event.
That same month, he is made an honorary member of the town of Baden-Baden.
Record release
Boulez: Livre pour quatuor · Diotima Quartet [Megadisc Classic]
2016
5 January
Dies at his home in Baden-Baden.
13 January
Funeral at the Stiftskirche in Baden-Baden. The composer is buried in the town’s main cemetery.