BOULEZ ENSEMBLE & MATTHIAS PINTSCHER — Labyrinth: Works by Boulez, Pintscher, and Widmann

The idea of the labyrinth has become an enduring philosophical and compositional theme for Jörg Widmann. To date, seven of his works bear this title (the most recent one will be heard in June in the final concert of the season). He wrote Labyrinth IV, which tells the story of the mythical minotaur from the perspective of his half-sister Ariadne, specifically for the Pierre Boulez Saal “with its labyrinthine possibilities. For the singer to be able to wander around the space was what made the piece possible in the first place.” The work received its first performance here in 2019 with Daniel Barenboim and the Boulez Ensemble. That same year, Matthias Pintscher led the world premiere of his piano concerto NUR at the Pierre Boulez Saal. Now he is back on the podium to conduct both pieces, with Julia Hamos and Katharine Dain taking on the solo parts. Pierre Boulez’s Sonatine, written in 1946 as one of the composer’s earliest works, completes the program.