Pierre Boulez

Pierre Boulez born 1925 in Montbrison on the Loire at first studied mathematics and technical science before he became a composition student of Olivier Messiaen’s in 1943. He also studied under Andrée Vaurabourg-Honegger and René Leibowitz. His career as a conductor began in 1946 with the direction of the stage music with the Compagnie Renaud/Barrault. In 1955 Boulez founded the concert series Domain Musicale with the ensemble of the same name in Paris. This was followed by conducting at the Bayreuth Festival. From 1955, Boulez taught at the Darmstadt International Summer Courses, and in 1963 he lectured in Harvard. From 1971 until 1975, he worked as the musical director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and from 1971 until 1977 with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra as the successor to Leonard Bernstein. In 1976, Boulez founded the IRCAM in Paris, whose director he remained until 1991, and in 1975 the Ensemble Intercontemporain, of which his is president. At this time, Boulez was also appointed professor at the Collège de France. Pierre Boulez is the author of many books and essays about music. He has received numerous awards, including several honorary doctorates, the Ernst von Siemens Music Award (1977), and the Theodor W. Adorno Award (1992).