Several U.S. orchestras are remembering composer and conductor Pierre Boulez with special tributes this week. Boulez died on January 5 at age 90. The New York Philharmonic, where Boulez served as music director from 1971 to 1977, is performing its January 7-9 and January 12 concerts in honor of Boulez. Music Director Alan Gilbert described Boulez as a “towering and influential figure whose Philharmonic leadership implicitly laid down a challenge of innovation and invention that continues to inspire us to this day.” The Cleveland Orchestra, where Boulez served as musical adviser from 1970 to 1972, has released a video from its 90th-birthday tribute concert last year. Chicago classical-radio station WFMT is airing three radio broadcasts featuring Boulez’s conversations with journalist Andrew Patner in 2009 and 2010, when Boulez was in residence as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Helen Regenstein Conductor Emeritus. Boulez was previously the CSO’s principal guest conductor. The WFMT broadcasts will air on January 7 at 11pm, January 8 at 11pm, and January 11 at 10pm.
Posted January 7, 2016
