Entrevista a Pierre Boulez

21.10.1973

KPFA-FM / Charles Amirkhanian  

Charles Amirkhanian interview the French, avant-garde, composer, and conductor, Pierre Boulez (Montbrison, 1925), following the world premiere performance of his revised (3rd version), “explosante-fixe,” at the Donaueschingen Music Festival on October 21, 1973. In this relatively brief interview Boulez offers his perspective on American composers such as Charles Ives, Henry Cowell, Steve Reich, and John Cage, all of whom he had at least heard of and generally respects, although he admits that his own approach to avant-garde orchestral and electro-acoustic music differs from that of his American counterparts. Boulez also discusses the, just presented, third version of his “explosante-fixe,” which is scored for flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin, viola, cello, harp, and electronics, and describes the type of preparations and rehearsals that were necessary for it performance. Amirkhanian then plays a slightly abbreviated recording of the very same performance, which featured the first chairs of the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the composer.