I would love to hear Boulez speak or conduct. Still, I don't think there's a piece he composed that really stuck with me. I love his conducting of Messiaen's "Poemes Pour Mi," a series of songs Messiaen wrote for his first wife. That whole CD is beautiful and my favorite of the recordings I've heard of his with the Cleveland Orchestra. But, I would also recommend his recordings on Everest with the Domaine Musical Ensemble. That's also a great way to get into Schoenberg. I was recently cleaning and tightening up the record shelves and pulled numerous Boulez records I never listened to--mostly of his own work. Still, I would want to see it live if I heard anything of his was being performed.

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That, mon ami, is sacrilege!
FWIW, neither "Le Marteau" nor "Pli Selon Pli" ever leave me.

My Ted! Opine away.

Walt, what are they?

They are two of what I consider the greatest works of 20th Century concert music. One is for soprano and chamber ensemble, the other for soprano and (very mallet-heavy) orchestra. IMHO, If Boulez had never written anything else, these two works would have made his career, but he also wrote "Structures," "Repons," etc., etc.

Not too shoddy a conductor either.

Thanks, Walt. While we're on the subject, can you name some characteristics of a good conductor? Particularly those that set one apart from the mediocre.

That's a tough one. To a large extent it depends on the particular repertory we're talking about. I like certain guys (like Jochum for Bruckner, e.g.) who are very romantic in the sense of passion-trumps-persnickity, but Boulez is great (in, say, Debussy) precisely because of the accuracy and lucidity of many of his performances. They certainly have to be able to get the most out of their orchestras (whatever exactly that is). And many of the greats (like some of the best basketball coaches) are great team builders and teachers.

Just wanted to chime in and agree with wlater on his assessment of Boulez the conductor. He can make for great contrast. The old Boulez / Cleveland Orchestra / CBS Great Performances recording of Stravinsky's RITE OF SPRING is still for me the definitive recording for thwe way it lays bare the inner workings of the piece.

Also, I wanted to point out that he looks remarkably like countryman Martial Solal in the photo Al selected.

Oh, and have a look at this:

http://www.flash.net/~jronsen/boulez.html

I would think that I hardly said anything sacrilegious. Does Boulez even believe in god? Definitely nothing as strong as saying Boulez is "not too shoddy" a conductor--unless you are in jest. I've been led well by picking up records with Boulez' name on them. He introduced me to a lot of great music from the 20th Century and I think I even acquired a taste of my own through him. And, after listening to other recordings by other conductors, most of the Schoenberg I listen to is led by him, the Messiaen pieces and Berg, too. But, except for some simpler arrangements of Messaien pieces, his arrangements and conducting are the ones I still listen to. Anyway, I see you feel that the pieces you listed are two of the greatest works of 20th Century concert music but how many are in your list? And, what is included in your term 20th Century concert music? I just don't rank his compositions that high. Definitely nowhere near where I rank him as a conductor.

Ted

"I see you feel that the pieces you listed are two of the greatest works of 20th Century concert music but how many are in your list? And, what is included in your term 20th Century concert music?"

Fair questions, Ted. Let's say I'd put "Le Marteau" inwith the top 20 classical chamber pieces and "Pli Selon Pli" with the top 20 orchestral works. And my "not too shoddy" was indeed intended to suggest that Boulez is a very fine conductor.

BWTHDIK?

Walt, I jumped on those Varése pieces. "Ameriques" - which I've listened to 3 times now with undivided attention - is absolutely beautiful. I was particularly struck by how complex the music is, and then how TIGHT the music is. How long must it have taken Boulez to really "know" that piece? Amazing.