Photo by yan.da On March 26 Pierre Boulez will turn 85, but the the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is celebrating a couple months early, devoting all its January performances to one of the most important musicians of the past century. Boulez’s relationship with the CSO began in 1969 when he first conducted the orchestra, and he was designated the principal guest conductor from 1995 until becoming conductor emeritus in 2006. Besides his conducting accomplishments – Boulez was also the Cleveland Orchestra ‘s principal guest conductor, as well as at one time the music director of both the New York Philharmonic and the BBC Symphony Orchestra – Boulez is also one of the foremost modernist composers, a leading purveyor and theorist of modern music, and has taught at University of Basel , Harvard University , and the Collège de France . He’s had a full 85 years. A number of events will be held in Boulez’s honor, including concerts, a lecture, and an album release (all shows are in Orchestra Hall unless otherwise noted) Check them all out after the jump. January 7-9, 12 – CSO Pierre Boulez, conductor Mathieu Dufour, flute Michelle DeYoung , mezzo-soprano Falk Struckmann, bass-baritone Maurice Ravel – “Le tombeau de Couperin” Marc-André Dalbavie – Flute Concerto Béla Bartók – “Bluebeard’s Castle” CSO principal flutist Mathieu Dufour has been testing the waters over the past season and a half with that hot young thing, the Los Angeles Philharmonic , even going so far as accepting the principal flute position there this past September. The CSO knows, like all of us, that if you love someone, you must set them free. Well, as Andrew Patner of the Sun-Times reports, we just found out that Dufour is, in fact, all ours. January 14-16, 19 – CSO David Robertson, conductor Kyoko Takezawa , violin Olivier Messiaen – “Les offrandes oubliées” Alban Berg – Violin Concerto Igor Stravinsky – “The Rite of Spring” David Robertson, former conductor of the Boulez-founded Ensemble InterContemporain and current music director of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra , leads the CSO in music Boulez has long championed, including music by Olivier Messiaen, with whom Boulez studied while at the Paris Conservatoire . And don’t forget about the CSO’s Chicagoist Gift Guide special ; you can still get two tickets for the price of one to the Thursday and Tuesday concerts by calling or stopping by the Symphony Center box office and mentioning code “Special 2-for-1″ (some restrictions apply). January 17 – Civic Orchestra of Chicago David Robertson, conductor Anton Webern – Passacaglia Anton Webern – Five Pieces for Orchestra Anton Webern – Six Pieces for Orchestra, Gustav Mahler – Adagio from Symphony No. 10 The Civic Orchestra is the CSO’s training program, mostly consisting of musicians under 30; it’s the orchestral musicians of tomorrow, today! Maybe’s it not the CSO, but it’s a good orchestra and the concerts are free (tickets still required). In addition, Boulez and Robertson are scheduled to give a talk about the concert beforehand. January 21-23 – CSO Pierre Boulez, conductor Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano Tamara Stefanovich, piano Cynthia Yeh, percussion Vadim Karpinos, percussion Pierre Boulez – “Livre pour cordes” Béla Bartók – Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion and Orchestra Igor Stravinsky – “The Firebird” This a rare chance to hear the full ballet score of Stravinsky’s “Firebird,” which, to our ears, is far superior to the more commonly played suites, and you get to hear it conducted by one of the greatest Stravinsky interpreters.The CSO’s Chicagoist Gift Guide special applies to the Thursday concert of this series, too. January 24 – MusicNOW Pierre Boulez, conductor Cliff Colnot, conductor Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano Tamara Stefanovich, piano Nathan Cole, violin John Sharp, cello Arshia Cont, computer production Jérémie Henrot, sound engineer Johannes Boris Borowski – “Wandlung” Pierre Boulez – “Structures” Pierre Boulez – “Messagesquisse” for Seven Cellos Dai Fujikura – “Mirrors” Pierre Boulez – “Anthèmes II” Boulez will conduct a concert of the CSO’s new-music chamber series that includes three of his own works and world premieres by Johannes Boris Borowski and Dai Fujikura commissioned by the CSO for the birthday celebration. January 26 – Conversation with Boulez Get it straight from the horse’s mouth. Boulez and CSO program annotator Phillip Huscher discuss modernism at the Art Institute of Chicago . Fullerton Hall at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan, $15, $10 AIC members, free for CSO subscribers January 26 – New CSO Recording If you want something concrete to remember Boulez’s birthday celebration forever and ever, pick up a copy of the Boulez-led all-Stravinsky CSO album, the latest release on the orchestra’s own Resound label. The recording features Symphony in Three Movements, Four Études, and a rare full version of the ballet “Pulcinella.” The disc is released on the 26th, but it’ll be available from iTunes on January 19.

Original post:
CSO Celebrates Boulez’s 85th Birthday