French composer Pierre Boulez (1925–2016) was among the most influential composers and music educators of the last hundred years. Consistently challenging the musical status quo, Boulez’s music transformed and revolutionized the contemporary musical landscape. In addition to composition, Boulez was a singular conductor who led performances by some of the world’s best orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony. Boulez also invested in contemporary music’s future, building institutions, ensembles, and training programs like IRCAM, Ensemble intercontemperain, and the Lucerne Festival that still thrive today.
The ICA and the Boston University Center for New Music celebrate the life and legacy of Boulez. Sound Icon, one of Boston’s leading interpreters of contemporary music, will perform under the direction of conductor Jeffrey Means two monumental Boulez works: the early career masterpiece Le marteau sans maître and the late period Dérive 2. These two pieces highlight the extraordinary range, color, and depth of Boulez’s music and offer audiences a rare opportunity to hear these works performed live.
Pierre Boulez’s music and the institutions he built made a lasting impression on the contemporary music world, and his influence continues to challenge and inspire.
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