Pierre Boulez is a visionary in twentieth-century contemporary music who challenged traditions and, along with like-minded colleagues, introduced new forms of sonic thinking. As a composer, conductor, and thinker, he paved the way for sonorism and electronic music, and he founded the institution for music of the future IRCAM in Paris, now a globally leading music research institute. Brilliant creator, ruthless dictator, perhaps – genius.
It is a great honor for the Liepāja Great Amber Concert Hall to cooperate with IRCAM in creating a unique concert program for Latvia, dedicated to the centennial of Boulez. As a result of a close collaboration among French and Latvian music professionals, the audience will experience the most complex, significant and, in a way, the most beautiful masterpieces by Boulez, where instruments of classical music meet electronics to shape grand and glorious forms, swirling rapids of events.
In the first part, internationally renowned Latvian violinist Magdalēna Geka will perform Pierre Boulez’s “Anthèmes II” (1997) for the violin. This work contains constant transformation and a sensitive dialog between person and technology. The sounds of the violin interact with live electronics, which transform and reflect the instrument’s sound in a spatially multidimensional soundcape in real time.
For the culmination of the program, an international team of soloists and masters of sound will collaborate with chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga and their conductor Normunds Šnē to perform one of the most extraordinary and beautiful pieces by Boulez, “Répons” (1980-1984), using a variety of IRCAM tools such as electronic instruments, sound synthesis, and software that allows to manipulate any sound electronically as it is played. This piece is a truly exciting listen – one can hear acoustic and electronic sounds alternating, solo parts interacting, harmonies beaming and overlapping.
The performance requires a specific layout of the room and sound equipment, which will be provided by IRCAM specialists in collaboration with the skilled colleagues of the Great Amber. The most impressive listening experience will be in the seats in the parter area, where the audience is surrounded by both the musicians and the sound equipment.
Pierre Boulez (1925–2016)
I PART
Anthèmes II (1997)
II PART
Répons (1981)
Chamber orchestra “Sinfonietta Rīga”
Conductor Normunds Šnē
Magdalēna Geka – violin
Sanita Glazenburga and Robert Fleitz – piano
Lucie Spedicato – harp
Françoise Rivalland – cimbalom
Elvijs Endelis – bells and xylophone
Guntars Freibergs – vibraphone
Pierre Carré – electronics
Sylvain Cadars – sound diffusion
Duration: concert in two parts, approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes
Suggested age of attendees: 7+
The concert “Pierre Boulez 100. Sinfonietta Rīga” is organized by SIA “Great Amber”.
It is implemented within the framework of the “Liepāja Art Forum” project of the “Liepāja 2027” programme, with funding provided by the Ministry of Culture, the City of Liepāja, and the South Kurzeme and Kuldīga municipalities.
Supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation.
