Music of Time - A Tribute to Boulez
Upon the death of the illustrious French composer Pierre Boulez in 2016, Olga Neuwirth payed tribute to him in the obituary section of the German newspaper Zeit – evoking her admiration for her mentor and remembering the way he "conceived music in a completely different way".
In remembrance of Boulez and to celebrate his 100th anniversary, the WDR Sinfonieorchester plays a piece by Neuwirth for orchestra and electronics, a salute to the composer who was a great enthusiast of electro-acoustic sounds. This concert also features Pli selon pli, one of Boulez's major works, which he started composing in 1957 and continued working on for many years. Designed for soprano et orchestra, this impressive piece is divided in five parts and paints a portrait sometimes loud, sometimes bright of the renowned poet Stéphane Mallarmé. It is the mission of the WDR Sinfonieorchester, directed by Jonathan Nott, to perform this eternally shining jewel of contemporary music.
Vera-Lotte Boecker soprano
WDR Sinfonieorchester
Jonathan Nott director
Augustin Muller IRCAM electronics
Olga Neuwirth Tombeau I, commissioned by WDR, Radio-France, IRCAM and the Festival de Lucerne, with the support of the Pierre Boulez Foundation, German premiere
Pierre Boulez, Pli selon pli (portrait of Mallarmé), for soprano and orchestra