Musical experiences with the Ensemble intercontemporain

Posted by Johannes Feigl on 04 February 2014

Matthias Pintscher (c) Edouard CaupeilThe Ensemble intercontemporain (cond. Matthias Pintscher) will perform Pierre Boulez’ Messagesquisse on 9 February as part of their second Turbulences Week-End. Also on the programme: Wolfgang Rihm’s Tutuguri VI (Kreuze), conducted by Michel Cerutti and performed by students of the Conservatoire de Paris.

The ensemble intercontemporain performs sur Incises

Posted by Johannes Feigl on 25 October 2013

Pierre Boulez: sur Incises (c) Universal Edition
Pierre Boulez’ sur Incises will be performed on 27 October in the frame of the Pollini Project at the Teatro alla Scala. Matthias Pintscher conducts the ensemble intercontemporain.

Excerpt from a conversation between Wolfgang Fink and Pierre Boulez:
Fink: Incises […] is rather short, extremely brilliant and with a sense of perpetual motion. Now sur Incises originates from this piece and goes beyond the scope of pure piano sound.

Boulez: Yes, it is an ensemble for three pianos which in a way represent the main instruments, three harps and three percussions of certain pitch, also timpani, steel drums, glockenspiel etc. I composed the piano piece Incises for the Umberto Micheli Piano Competition which is greatly supported by Maurizio Pollini. First I had in mind to transform this piece into a longer one for Pollini and a group of instrumentalists, a kind of piano concerto although without reference to the traditional form. The literature in concerto form does not appeal to me any more. Therefore I produced a piece for three pianos assuming that there already exists enough interesting literature for two pianos and ensembles, especially in the modern age - take for example Bartok's "Sonata for two pianos and percussion".

Read more.

Pierre Boulez: sur Incises
for 3 pianos, 3 harps and 3 percussionists | 40'
27.10.2013, Teatro alla Scala, Milano; ensemble intercontemporain, cond. Matthias Pintscher

Luciano Berio’s Ofanim in Paris

Posted on 08 June 2012

Luciano Berio (photo: Eric Marinitsch)

Ensemble intercontemporain gives the French première of Luciano Berio’s Ofanim tomorrow. Susanna Mälkki conducts.

Pierre-Yves Macé introduces the work in the ensemble’s Accents online series, (in French).

Listen to the score: Staud’s Par ici!

Posted on 05 September 2011

Johannes Maria Staud’s latest work for ensemble, Par ici!, was given its world première by Ensemble intercontemporain this June, conducted by Susanna Mälkki.

france musiqueThe concert will be broadcast at 8pm (Paris time) tonight, Monday 5th, by france musique. Click here to listen. Once again we’re giving you the opportunity of following the full score during the broadcast. Here it is.

Click 'Expand' to show the score in full screen view.

View on issuu.com

Let us know about your experience reading along to a broadcast.

Staud world première in Paris

Posted on 17 June 2011

Johannes Maria StaudJohannes Maria Staud’s new work for the ensemble intercontemporain, Par ici! is given its world première tonight in Paris. Susanna Mälkki conducts.

The performance is part of the Festival Agora.

Pierre-Yve Macé on Berio’s Sinfonia

Posted on 14 April 2011

Luciano BerioSomething for our French-speaking readers:

As part of their autour d’une œuvre series, the ensemble intercontemporain has published Pierre-Yve Macé’s essay on Luciano Berio’s Sinfonia.

See also his article on Berio’s Recital for Cathy (with video).

Ensemble intercontemporain next performs UE works at its Scène ouverte concert on 28 April, including Kagel’s Ludwig van, Stockhausen’s Klavierstücke and Boulez’ Domaines.

Berio’s Recital for Cathy with Measha Brueggergosman

Posted on 10 March 2011

Measha BrueggergosmanMeasha Brueggergosman and Ensemble Intercontemporain revive their 2008 production of Luciano Berio’s Recital for Cathy this March. Peter Eötvös conducts.

Performances start today in Barcelona, followed by Cologne, Lisbon, Antwerp and Amsterdam. See the Ensemble Intercontemporain website for details, as well as a video excerpt of the 2008 performance. 

In a break from rehearsals in Paris, Measha Brueggergosman gave us her impression of Berio’s work.

(View on Vimeo)