Keeping the Boulez spirit alive

By Sam Johnstone, 02 January 2017

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“Boulez’s presence continues to loom large...through the legacy of his reforming zeal.”

Tim Rutherford-Johnson, 10th July

This year Chigiana International Festival presents Yann Robin’s new opera Medusa, inspired by Alessandro Scarlatti and Caravaggio – music poised between past and future.

Endless spirals: Philippe Manoury remembers Pierre Boulez

Chloë Rouge, 27th March

On the centenary of Pierre Boulez’s birth, Phillippe Manoury tells us about his relationship with the composer and conductor, painting a picture which bucks some pre-conceived ideas.

Barbara Hannigan and Herbie Hancock honoured with Polar Music Prizes

Bachtrack, 18th March

Canadian soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan and US jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, together with British rock band Queen, join an illustrious list group of musicians to win the Swedish prizes.

Sensuality and modern music: Barbara Hannigan

Lawrence Dunn, 6th December

Barbara Hannigan talks about her relationship with Boulez, on singing Pli selon pli, and returning to the London Symphony Orchestra to conduct two programmes this season.

Yasuhisa Toyota, acoustician of the world’s great concert halls

David Karlin, 30th June

What makes Suntory Hall, Disney Hall, the Philharmonie de Paris, the Elbphilharmonie and 28 others sound the way they do? The work of Yasuhisa Toyota and Nagata Acoustics. We learn more...

Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and beyond

Lawrence Dunn, 10th March

We profile one of the most advanced and best-sounding concert halls in the UK, and take a look further afield at arts and culture across Manchester.

Sam Johnstone

Sam Johnstone is a musician and writer based in Berlin. He has written on classical, contemporary and world music for Sinfini Music, The Cusp and World Music Network, and about the influence of the avant-garde on contemporary music in Germany and Japan whilst studying at Oxford University and SOAS, University of London. Sam blogs at www.spljohnstone.com and tweets at @spljohnstone