Pierre Boulez was a French composer, conductor, and writer, recognized as a dominant figure in post-war contemporary classical music.
He was awarded the prestigious Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts.
Boulez received the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts, highlighting his influence in both music and culture.
Biography
Early Life
Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez was born on March 26, 1925, in France. He emerged as a prominent figure in contemporary classical music, known for his work as a composer, conductor, and writer. Boulez's early influences included notable composers such as Claude Debussy, Arnold Schoenberg, and Anton Webern, which shaped his innovative approach to music.
Career
Boulez's career spanned several decades, during which he founded various musical institutions and became a leading voice in post-war classical music. He was known for his confrontational style and strong opinions, famously declaring that any musician who had not experienced dodecaphonic music was "USELESS." His notable works include albums like "Pierrot lunaire" and "Le Marteau sans maître," which showcase his unique compositional style. Boulez also received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Grammy Awards and the Polar Music Prize, reflecting his significant contributions to the field.
Personal Life
Boulez was characterized by a complex personality, often described as explosive and confrontational. His relationships with contemporaries were marked by intense debates, such as his criticism of Olivier Messiaen's works, which he once referred to as "brothel music." Despite his aggressive demeanor, those close to him recognized his loyalty and passion for music. Boulez's legacy continues to influence contemporary composers, and he is remembered for his rigorous compositional skill and imaginative aural refinement.
Legacy
Upon his passing on January 5, 2016, Boulez left behind a rich legacy, including a substantial donation of his manuscripts and personal papers to the Paul Sacher Foundation. In recognition of his impact on music, the concert hall of the Philharmonie de Paris was renamed the Grande salle Pierre Boulez, and a new concert hall, the Pierre Boulez Saal, was opened in Berlin in 2017. His contributions to music and culture have been honored with numerous awards, solidifying his status as a monumental figure in the world of classical music.
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Discography
Chamber Concerto - Ramifications - Aventures - Nouvelles aventures1983
- 1.Chamber Concerto for 13 instrumentalists: I. Corrente5:03
- 2.Chamber Concerto for 13 instrumentalists: II. Calmo, sostenuto5:50
- 3.Chamber Concerto for 13 instrumentalists: III. Movimento preciso e meccanico4:01
- 4.Chamber Concerto for 13 instrumentalists: IV. Presto3:36
- 5.Ramifications for string orchestra or 12 solo strings8:41
- 6.Aventures for 3 singers and 7 instrumentalists11:58
- 7.Nouvelles Aventures for 3 singers and 7 instrumentalists: I. Sostenuto6:15
- 8.Nouvelles Aventures for 3 singers and 7 instrumentalists: II. Agitato molto5:07
Trois sonates pour piano1981
- 1.Première sonate pour piano : I. Lent4:31
- 2.Première sonate pour piano : II. Assez large, Rapide4:30
- 3.Troisième sonate pour piano : formant 3 — constellation‐miroir : Points 1 — Blocs I — Points 2 — Blocs II — Points 311:34
- 4.Troisième sonate pour piano : formant 2 — tropes : Textes — Paranthèse — Glose — Commentaire6:46
- 5.Deuxième sonate pour piano : I. Extrêmement rapide5:48
- 6.Deuxième sonate pour piano : II. Lent10:25
- 7.Deuxième sonate pour piano : III. Modéré, presque vif2:12
- 8.Deuxième sonate pour piano : IV. Vif9:33
Die Walküre1981
- 1.I. Aufzug: Vorspiel - 1. Szene - 2. Szene31:36
- 2.I. Aufzug: 2. Szene (Schluzz) - 3. Szene30:22
- 3.II. Aufzug: Vorspiel - 1. Szene - 2. Szene27:32
- 4.II. Aufzug: 2. Szene (Schluss) - 3. Szene30:18
- 5.II. Aufzug: 4. Szene - 5. Szene28:13
- 6.III. Aufzug: 1. Szene - 2. Szene21:25
- 7.III. Aufzug: 2. Szene (Schluss) - 3. Szene20:12
- 8.III. Aufzug: 3. Szene (Schluss)23:33
Orchestral Music: op. 1 / op. 6 / op. 10 / op. 21 / op. 30 / Ricercata1980
- 1.Passacaglia für Orchester, op. 110:04
- 2.Sechs Stücke für Orchester, op. 612:20
- 3.Fünf Stücke für Orchester, op. 104:17
- 4.Symphonie, op. 219:17
- 5.Variationen für Orchester, op. 307:12
- 6.Bach Fuge (Ricercata) aus dem Musikalischen Opfer für Orchester gesetzt7:01
Wozzeck1980
- 1.Wozzeck: Act I, Scene 1. The Captain’s room9:03
- 2.Wozzeck: Act I, Scene 2. An open field outside the town7:34
- 3.Wozzeck: Act I, Scene 3. Marie’s room8:40
- 4.Wozzeck: Act I, Scene 4. The Doctor’s study7:48
- 5.Wozzeck: Act I, Scene 5. Street before Marie’s door2:58
- 6.Wozzeck: Act II, Scene 1. Marie’s room5:37
- 7.Wozzeck: Act II, Scene 2. Street in town10:07
- 8.Wozzeck: Act II, Scene 3. Street before Marie’s door4:40
- 9.Wozzeck: Act II, Scene 4. Tavern garden10:30
- 10.Wozzeck: Act II, Scene 5. Guard room in the barracks4:22
- 11.Wozzeck: Act III, Scene 1. Marie’s room5:00
- 12.Wozzeck: Act III, Scene 2. Forest path by a pool5:15
- 13.Wozzeck: Act III, Scene 3. A tavern3:02
- 14.Wozzeck: Act III, Scene 4. Forest path by a pool4:48
- 15.Wozzeck: Act III. Orchestral Epilogue5:15
Symphony of Three Orchestras / A Mirror on Which to Dwell1980
- 1.Symphony of Three Orchestras15:42
- 2.A Mirror on Which to Dwell - Six Poems of Elizabeth Bishop: I. Anaphora3:51
- 3.A Mirror on Which to Dwell - Six Poems of Elizabeth Bishop: II. Argument2:54
- 4.A Mirror on Which to Dwell - Six Poems of Elizabeth Bishop: III. Sandpiper2:30
- 5.A Mirror on Which to Dwell - Six Poems of Elizabeth Bishopl: IV. Insomnia3:19
- 6.A Mirror on Which to Dwell - Six Poems of Elizabeth Bishopl: V. View of the Capitol From the Library of Congress3:04
- 7.A Mirror on Which to Dwell - Six Poems of Elizabeth Bishop: VI. O Breath4:01
Lulu1979
- 1.Lulu: Prolog / I. Akt, 1. Szene / Interludium
- 2.Lulu: I. Akt, 2. Szene
- 3.Lulu: I. Akt: Verwandlung / 3. Szene
- 4.Lulu: II. Akt, 1. Szene
- 5.Lulu: II. Akt: Filmmusik / 2. Szene
- 6.Lulu: III. Akt, 1. Szene
- 7.Lulu: III. Akt: Variationen / 2. Szene
- 8.Biographisches
- 9.Zum III. Akt von Alban Bergs Lulu
- 10.Zur Interpretation
Kammermusik1978
- 1.Kammerkonzert für Klavier und Geige mit 13 Bläsern: I. Thema scherzoso con variazioni
- 2.Kammerkonzert für Klavier und Geige mit 13 Bläsern: II. Adagio
- 3.Kammerkonzert für Klavier und Geige mit 13 Bläsern: III. Rondo ritmico con introduzione
- 4.Vier Stücke für Klarinette und Klavier, op. 5: I. Mäßig
- 5.Vier Stücke für Klarinette und Klavier, op. 5: II. Sehr langsam
- 6.Vier Stücke für Klarinette und Klavier, op. 5: III. Sehr rasch
- 7.Vier Stücke für Klarinette und Klavier, op. 5: IV. Langsam
- 8.Sonate für Klavier, op. 1: Mässig bewegt
Concerto for Orchestra1973
- 1.Concerto for Orchestra: Introduzione9:56
- 2.Concerto for Orchestra: Giuoco delle coppie6:39
- 3.Concerto for Orchestra: Elegia7:25
- 4.Concerto for Orchestra: Intermezzo interrotto4:17
- 5.Concerto for Orchestra: Finale8:38
Boulez Conducts Berlioz1973
- 1.Benevenuto Cellini: Overture10:20
- 2.Les Troyens: Royal Hunt and Storm8:39
- 3.Beatrice and Benedict: Overture7:40
- 4.Beatrice and Benedict: Entr'acte1:27
- 5.Roman Carnival: Overture8:52
“Wozzeck” Act III / Seven Early Songs1973
- 1.7 frühe Lieder: Nacht3:41
- 2.7 frühe Lieder: Schilflied2:27
- 3.7 frühe Lieder: Die Nachtigall2:20
- 4.7 frühe Lieder: Traumgekrönt2:30
- 5.7 frühe Lieder: Im Zimmer1:14
- 6.7 frühe Lieder: Liebesode1:45
- 7.7 frühe Lieder: Sommertage1:48
- 8.Wozzeck: Act III, Scene 1. Marie’s room5:00
- 9.Wozzeck: Act III, Scene 2. Forest path by a pool5:15
- 10.Wozzeck: Act III, Scene 3. A tavern3:02
- 11.Wozzeck: Act III, Scene 4. Forest path by a pool4:48
- 12.Wozzeck: Act III. Orchestral Epilogue5:15
Boulez dirigiert Mahler: Das Klagende Lied (Erste Gesamtaufnahme) / Adagio aus der Sinfonie Nr. 101971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Domaines1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Messiaen: 7 Haïkaï / Eloy: Équivalences / Pousseur: Madrigal III1971
- 1.7 Haïkaï19:42
- 2.Équivalences8:46
- 3.Madrigal III11:55
Pierre Boulez Conducts Berlioz: Lélio (The Return to Life)1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Schoenberg: Pierrot lunaire / Webern: Zwei Lieder, op. 8 / Fünf Canon, op. 16 / Boulez: Improvisation sur Mallarmé1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 & Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt, Op. 112 - Mahler: Symphony No. 101970
Tracklist not collected yet.
Boulez Conducts Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 / Calm Sea And Prosperous Voyage1970
Tracklist not collected yet.
Pelléas et Mélisande1970
Tracklist not collected yet.
Boulez Conducts Debussy, Vol. 2 (Images Pour Orchestre / Danses, Sacree Et Profane)1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Le Sacre du Printemps1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
The New Music, Volume 21968
Tracklist not collected yet.
Schoenberg: Transfigured Night / Eloy: Equivalences / Schoenberg, Eloy / Pousseur: Madrigal III1967
Tracklist not collected yet.
Le Marteau sans maître1964
Tracklist not collected yet.
Pierrot lunaire1962
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Deutsche Grammophon
- Record label
- Sony Classical
Achievements
Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Award
- Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres
- Award
- Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order
- Award
- Medal for Merit to Culture
- Award
- Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the State of Vienna
- Award
- Theodor W. Adorno Award
- Award
- Praemium Imperiale
- Award
- Léonie Sonning Music Prize
- Award
- Glenn Gould Prize
- Award
- Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal
- Award
- Berliner Kunstpreis
- Award
- Grawemeyer Awards
- Award
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Award
- Grammy Awards
- Award
- Ernst von Siemens Music Prize
- Award
- Polar Music Prize
- Award
- Wolf Prize in Arts
- Award
- Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy
- Award
- Edison Music Awards
- Award
- BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award
- Award
- Robert Schumann Prize for Poetry and Music
- Award
- Bach Prize of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
- Award
- Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition
- Award
- Austrian Decoration for Science and Art
- Award
- Grand Cross of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword
- Award
- honorary doctor of the Royal College of Music
- Award
- honorary doctorate of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Award
- Pour le Mérite
- Award
- Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards
- Award
- Goethe Medal
- Award
- Royal Philharmonic Society Award (Chamber-Scale Composition)
- Award
- Royal Philharmonic Society Award (Conductor)
Influenced by
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Boulez, Boulez, Pierre
Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez was a French composer, conductor and writer, and the founder of several musical institutions. He was one of the dominant figures of post-war contemporary classical music.
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Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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