Boulez and the young generation

• Classical Music

Pierre Boulez catapulted himself to the forefront of music pioneers in 1955 with his chamber cantata »Le marteau sans maître« (The Hammer Without a Master). Top young talents such as Ema Nikolovska and Sean Shibe, both Elbphilharmonie FAST LANE artists, juxtapose the Boulez with works by the next generation and the generation after that as part of the Hamburg International Music Festival with the motto »Future«: »12 Caprices« by James Dillon and »Bel Canto« by Cassandra Miller, which is dedicated to the opera diva Maria Callas.

Please note the change of programm: Instead of the new piece of Tyshawn Sorey, it is »12 Caprices« by James Dillon.

»Le marteau sans maître« is one of Boulez’s most renowned signature works. He took three surrealist poems by the Frenchman René Char from his eponymous collection as the starting point for this composition for alto voice and six instruments. This is not a traditional setting of text to music though. While the verses are sung, they are also interpreted purely instrumentally – resulting in an almost labyrinthine realm of words and sounds that invite the listener in to search and discover.

PERFORMERS

Ema Nikolovska mezzo-soprano

Adam Walker flute

Matthew Hunt clarinet

Mira Benjamin violin

Emma Wernig viola

Colin Alexander violoncello

Sean Shibe guitar

George Barton percussion

Sam Wilson percussion

Iris van den Bos percussion

Alphonse Cemin conductor

PROGRAM

James Dillon
12 Caprices

Cassandra Miller
Bel Canto für Mezzosopran und Ensemble

- Interval -

Pierre Boulez
Le marteau sans maître