Boulez: Sonic Structures
The London Sinfonietta, Sir George Benjamin and flautist Michael Cox celebrate Pierre Boulez’ meticulous, future-focused work on the centenary of his birth.
Boulez: Sonic Structures presents the intoxicating music of Pierre Boulez, stepping into the structures the French composer built throughout his career.
With his meticulous, almost mathematical approach to sound, Boulez took 20th century music apart and rewired it, changing its internal logic. In this concert, London Sinfonietta explores the chaos found within his fixed systems, and the volatile consequences of depth and detail.
Marking the centenary of Boulez’ birth, the concert pays tribute to his adaptable approach to composition. Boulez had supposedly finished ‘…explosante-fixe…’ in 1971, but kept finding new life in it, growing it from a small-scale piece into iterations for electronics, orchestras and emerging MIDI techniques. Though the piece was initially conceived as a tribute to Igor Stravinsky, Boulez projected it into the future, reimagining the song for new times.
Throughout the performance, London Sinfonietta highlights both the complexity and possibility at the heart of Boulez’ music.
For ‘…explosante-fixe…’, flautist Michael Cox is accompanied by an orchestra in orbit. They respond dynamically to his playing, weaving together the piece’s network of finely tuned arrangements. At times, they are restrained to near silence, while at others, they overwhelm the listener with a blanket continuum of sound.
Performers
London Sinfonietta
George Benjamin conductor
Michael Cox flute
Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble
Repertoire
Boulez: Mémoriale ( ...explosante-fixe... original version for flute & 8 instruments)
Discussion: George Benjamin & Andrew Gerzso explore the composition and construction of ... explosante fixe ... with live demonstrations
Interval
Boulez: ...explosante-fixe... for flute with live electronics, 2 flutes & ensemble
Need to know
Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer at 6.15pm: pre-concert talk titled ‘Back to Basics – An Introduction to Boulez’. Gillian Moore CBE in conversation with Jonathan Cross. Admission free.
For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
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