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1925 - 1944 | 1945 - 1953 | 1955 - 1964 | 1965 - 1974 | 1976 - 1989 | 1991 - 1996 | 1997 - 20001925
Pierre Boulez born in Montbrison, France on 26 March.
1941
Undertakes special studies in mathematics in Lyon to prepare for entry to the Ecole Polytechnique.
1942
Moves to Paris with the special intention of studying music, and enters the Paris Conservatoire.
1944
Boulez is admitted to the harmony class of Olivier Messiaen.
1945He studies counterpoint with Andrée Vaurabourg, composition with Messiaen, and serial technique with René Leibowitz.
Notations for piano
1946
He graduates from the Paris Conservatoire and is appointed Music Director of the Renaud-Barrault Theatre Company.
1948
Reworks Le soleil des eaux as a cantata (originally music for a radio play)
1950
Begins work on Un coup de dès, Essais and Polyphony for 49 Instruments
1952
Signs contract with Universal Edition and visits New York where he meets Igor Stravinsky.
1953
Boulez founds the Concerts du Petit Marigny which two years later become the well-known and influential Domaine Musical series. Begins work on Le mateau sans maitre.
1955Begins teaching at Damstadt. Le mateau sans maitre receives first performance in Baden-Baden, Germany. First performance of Livre pour quatuor.
1957
Conducts Le Marteau in Los Angeles. Stravinsky is in the audience. Makes his London debut with Yvonne Loriod, performing Structures.
1958
Conducts the first performance of Gruppen by Stockhausen (with Stockhausen and Bruno Maderna). Composes new version of Le soleil des eaux.
1960
Begins teaching composition and musical analysis at Basle University, whilst at the same time devoting more time to conducting. Conducts first performance of Pli selon pli.
1962
Appointed Visiting Professor at Harvard University for the academic year 1962-63.
1964
Makes his conducting debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. First performance of Figures - Doubles - Prismes.
1965Conducts the first performance of Éclât in Los Angeles. Celebrates his 40th birthday.
1966
Difference of opinion about state intervention in the arts as espoused by André Malraux drives Boulez into voluntary exile from France for several years.
1967
His reputation as one of the world's great musical minds and his interest in musical interpretation leads to invitation to conduct the Cleveland Orchestra - becomes principal guest conductor from 1967 until 1972. Now infamous and controversial views on opera reported in Der Speigal.
1971
Becomes Chief Conductor the BBC Symphony Orchestra. In the same year, succeeds Leonard Bernstein as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, a post which he holds until 1977. Composes ..explosante fixe..
1974
Returns to France in triumph when the French Government under President Georges Pompidou decides to build a Music Research Centre (IRCAM) at the Centre Georges Pompidou and invites Boulez to be its creator and director.
1976Appointed Professor at the Collège de France by the President of the French Republic, a post he holds until 1995. Much acclaimed performances of Parsifal in Bayreuth lead to an invitation to conduct the celebrated centenary Ring cycle directed by Patrice Chéreau.
1977
The opening of IRCAM. Boulez conducts the first Ensemble InterContemporain concerts.
1980
Begins work on Repons
1981
First performance of Repons by Ensemble InterContemporain.
1985
Oliver Knussen conducts the London Sinfonietta in the first performance of Dérive as part of Boulez 60th birthday celebrations.
1989
Major Boulez retrospective by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London.
1991New recording contract with Deutche Grammophon
1992
Conducts the Peter Stein production of Pelléas et Mélisande for Welsh National Opera which receives the International Classical Music Award for Opera Production of the Year.
1993
First performance of ..explosante fixe.. (scored for electronic flute, small ensemble and computer-generated sounds)
1995
His 70th birthday year takes him on a tour of celebratory concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra. In the autumn he conducts a new production of Schoenberg's Moses and Aaron at Netherlands Opera, again in collaboration with Peter Stein.
1996
Repeat of the Peter Stein production of Moses and Aaron at the Salzburg Festival. First performance of first version of sur Incises.
1997Conducts a new production of Stravinsky's The Nightingale in Paris with the Orchestre de Paris and a concert performance in London with the BBC Symphony Orchestra which opens the BBC's Sounding the Century festival. Boulez begins a sabbatical period to devote time to composition.
1998
At the Aix-en-Provence Festival he conducted a new production by Pina Bausch of Bartok's Duke Bluebeard's Castle.
1999
Appointed composer-in-residence at New York's Carnegie Hall.
2000
75th birthday celebration weekend in London at the Royal Festival Hall with London Sinfonietta and the Ensemble InterContemporain.
introduction : biography : chronology : celebrating pierre : recommended reading : recommended listening : interview boulez : composing : workshops : support : contact