Boulez on Conducting

by Pierre Boulez

Pierre Boulez is arguably the single most influential - and controversial - figure in the world of music today. As composer, conductor and personality, his challenging views are lent a special authority by his very high standing as an interpreter of great composers such as Wagner, Debussy, Bart�k and Stravinsky. He regularly appears to great acclaim on concert platforms and in opera houses around the world.In these unique conversations with C�cile Gilly, he recalls not only the great moments of his career, but brings penetrating insights into the art of conducting, including his views on other great composer-conductors (Berlioz, Wagner, Mahler, Strauss). Boulez speaks unusually frankly about his own rapport with conductors as a composer, and how he sees the role of the conductor today.

Genres: Music

150 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2003

About the author

Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez CBE (26 March 1925 – 5 January 2016) was a French composer, conductor, writer and founder of several musical institutions. He was one of the dominant figures of the post-war classical music world.

Reviews

[Philippe Malzieu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pierre Boulez, I am total fan. He directs without conductor's baton. During his concerts, I am fascinated by his hands. By a simple finger's movement, he underlines an instrumentation. It is just incredible.
He is composer, theorist and chief orchestrates. He has been musical director of NYC philarmonic in the middle of 70 th. Some people didn't like his musical taste. He appreciates the second Vienna's school Berg, Webern and Schoenberg but also Wagner, Debussy ans Ravel. He appréciates also particullary Elliot Carter, his american friend. When he go back there at the end of the 90th, it was a strong émotion. There was many posters in the city with "BOULEZ IS BACK".
He directed the Ring of the centenary in Bayreuth.
He wrote terrible things on the musicians he hates: Berlioz and Jolivet. He's severe but his argumentation is rigorous.
He wrote many books. I choose this one because it's only on conducting.
I saw him several times in restaurants in Aix-en-Provence. I never dared to speak to him.
..the hands of Boulez....

[Telmo Sans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entiendo que hay que ser músico para leer este libro y disfrutarlo en todos sus aspectos. Pierre Boulez (como director) es una persona que ha pasado a ser de las más interesantes para mí del siglo pasado.