Composer, conductor and champion of modern music Pierre Boulez celebrates his 85th birthday today, March 26

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Maestro Pierre Boulez celebrates his 85th birthday today. In leading up to this date, he spent the last few months touring the world and conducting the many orchestras he has had long relationships with including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic and Ensemble Intercontemporain. He will continue through April and May to give concerts featuring works by Messiaen, Bartók, Schoenberg, Ligeti, Varèse and his own compositions.

2010 also marks the 40th anniversary of Maestro Boulez’s long and fruitful association with Deutsche Grammophon. His first recording for the Yellow Label was a complete recording of Wagner’s Parsifal in 1970. Over the next four decades his extraordinary range of recordings has included music from Berlioz and Bartók to Mahler, Messiaen and beyond. Among his most celebrated discs are his award-winning Mahler cycle and (on DVD) the centenary production of Wagner’s Ring cycle from the Bayreuth Festival.

At 85 years old Boulez embarks not only on new projects but continues to be a tireless champion of contemporary music, and his discography includes a number of acclaimed recordings of his own compositions.

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