CONFERENCE CANCELLED

The São Luiz Theatre announces that due to the workers’ strike, the conference Centenary of the Birth of Pierre Boulez, by Nuno Vieira de Almeida, scheduled for Saturday, 8 November, has been cancelled.

The session on Sunday, 9 November, at 4 pm will go ahead as planned.

Admission is free, subject to room capacity, with tickets available on the day from 3 pm.

For further information: bilheteira@teatrosaoluiz.pt or 213 257 651/20.

Programme

8 November
Pierre Boulez – the composer
Nuno Vieira de Almeida and José Pedro Ribeiro (piano)

9 November
Pierre Boulez – the composer | the performer
Nuno Vieira de Almeida and José Pedro Ribeiro (piano)

Pierre Boulez remains one of the most fascinating (and important) figures of the latter half of the twentieth century and the first decade of this century. As a composer, Boulez’s absolute formal rigour does not prevent his work from being appreciated even by lay audiences. He did not write many compositions; instead, he revisited them again and again.

The 12 Notations for piano are twelve miniatures composed in 1945. Some of them were not orchestrated until 1980. Comparing the initial piano work with the orchestral version provides a starting point (or a destination) for understanding Boulez’s captivating language.

His experience as a conductor also influenced his work as a composer.

Even if we only consider Boulez’s interpretations of works by Debussy, Wagner, Mahler, Berg or Schönberg, among many others, he can still be defined as one of the most important performers of his era.

Boulez also stirred musical life with his uniquely provocative and polemical approach.

These three aspects will be discussed by Nuno Vieira de Almeida, together with José Pedro Ribeiro, who will perform some of the Notations on the 8th.