The New York Philharmonic has announced additional plans to celebrate the centennial of Pierre Boulez (1925–2016). Boulez was a composer, conductor, innovator, educator, and the Orchestra’s Music Director from 1971–77.
Back-to-back subscription programs will take place at the Wu Tsai Theater at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center from October 3 – 11 spotlighting two of his former compositions along with post-concert discussions and an archival exhibit exploring Boulez’s life and legacy.
Composer-conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen — Boulez’s close associate and friend, who was recently named the future creative director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, creativity and innovation chair of the Philharmonie de Paris, and principal conductor of the Orchestre de Paris — will lead the Orchestra in both concert programs.
The October 3–5, 2025, concerts will feature three selections from Boulez’s Notations in both their original solo-piano versions and their full orchestral versions, led by Salonen. The program also features several works by Boulez’s countryman Debussy: Gigues and Rondes de Printemps, from Images, Fantasie for Piano and Orchestra, and La Mer.
On October 9–11, 2025, Salonen leads Boulez’s Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna in the New York Premiere of a production co-commissioned by the NY Phil, LA Phil, and Orchestre de Paris. The production features original choreography by Benjamin Millepied (in his NY Phil debut) performed by L.A. Dance Project (NY Phil debut). The program also includes works by two composers Boulez championed as NY Phil Music Director: Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra and Stravinsky’s Octet.
The New York Philharmonic’s celebration of Pierre Boulez’s centennial, which began in the 2024–25
season, has included a side-by-side performance of his Sur Incises by Musicians from the Philharmonic and students from the Juilliard Orchestra, in October 2024; a remounting of a program Boulez curated as Music Director on a Sound On concert in January 2025; the unveiling of C’est Boulez!, an archival exhibit in David Geffen Hall, in the spring of 2025; and the release of more than 13,000 pages of Boulez materials by the New York Philharmonic Shelby White &Leon Levy Digital Archives in March 2025.
Tickets to New York Philharmonic performances may be purchased online at nyphil.org or by calling (212) 875-5656, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Tickets may also be purchased at the Welcome Center at David Geffen Hall.
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