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Posted

http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/beauty-in-the-strangest-places/Content?oid=898018

"By Lee Sandlin

Pierre Boulez is the best orchestra conductor alive. He's also the most cold-blooded. His rep hasn't changed for decades: he's the ultraintellectual modernist, the disdainer of imprecision and emotional sloppiness, the unyielding advocate of all music harsh, obscure, and avant-garde. It's true that now and then you do hear people claim he's softening--lately some friends of mine have been telling me that his recent performances show him widening his range and even finding things to like in the Romantic music he most despises. Well, maybe so. But I've just sat through the first three concerts of his winter residency with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and he sounded like the same old Mr. Freeze to me."

Posted

I never heard Boulez with CSO except on record, where I have a feeling it is the CSO I don't entirely get on with. The question as to what interests Boulez vs. what he conducts for form's sake is a good one though.

Posted

I've seen Boulez conduct dozens of times but I wouldn't say his quiet and precise manner indicates boredom. He would never have conducted so much if he hadn't been on a mission with it. That said I sometimes wonder whether he has programmed certain things just to satisfy concert promoters and his record company.

Posted

I've seen Boulez conduct dozens of times but I wouldn't say his quiet and precise manner indicates boredom. He would never have conducted so much if he hadn't been on a mission with it. That said I sometimes wonder whether he has programmed certain things just to satisfy concert promoters and his record company.

i never considered the 'satisfy concert promoters, goers, and record company.' angle. every famous serious artist has to deal with that. thx.

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