Ensemble Intercontemporain offers a 90th birthday salute to its founder Pierre Boulez, with music by Debussy, Robin, Pintscher – and Boulez himself.

For eight decades, Pierre Boulez has challenged the world of music – and Ensemble Intercontemporain has explored the pathways he’s opened. Tonight, under Mattthias Pintscher it continues to explore, and pays a 90th birthday tribute to its founder: Boulez himself, and two modern classics that never sound any less new.

Boulez founded Ensemble Intercontemporain in 1976, and he’s the presiding genius tonight – his influence resonates through the music of IRCAM graduate Yann Robin. Current music director Matthias Pintscher is an increasingly influential creative force, and his performance of Choc, his powerful “Antiphon” from 1996 will have a special energy and authority. But behind each of these works is the towering presence of Boulez himself, and performances of his Memoriale and the astonishing Sur Incises for three pianos, three harps and percussion will reveal afresh the beauty and sheer creative power of this great modernist mind.

Programm & Performers

• Debussy Syrinx
• Boulez Memoriale
• Matthias Pintscher Choc (Monumento IV)
• Yann Robin Asymétriades
• Boulez Sur Incises
• Ensemble Intercontemporain
• Matthias Pintscher conductor