Celebrated pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard is coming to town for a special concert. He's a massive name in contemporary classical music, and this performance is a tribute to both Maurice Ravel's 150th and his mentor Pierre Boulez's 100th birthdays. Expect a night of technically demanding and fascinating 20th-century pieces.

Pierre-Laurent Aimard enjoys an exceptional reputation in the field of contemporary music. He is not only a recognized authority but is also highly regarded for his fresh interpretations of traditional repertoire. Aimard has been awarded numerous prizes, including the prestigious German Ernst von Siemens Music Prize in 2017 for his life's dedication to music, and Denmark's most important music award, the Leonie Sonning Music Prize, in 2022.

The concert program encompasses classic works by several composers including Béla Bartók, Pierre Boulez, Alban Berg, and Maurice Ravel, each piece possessing its own unique character.

On October 10, join Pierre-Laurent Aimard to immerse yourself in this recital, full of commemorative significance and artistic charm.

Program:

Béla Bartók: Eight Selections from 'Mikrokosmos'

• Fourth
• Boating
• From the Diary of a Fly
• Merry Andrew
• Syncopations
• Minor Seconds, Major Sevenths
• Staccato
• Ostinato

Pierre Boulez: Notations

Alban Berg: Piano Sonata, Op. 1

Pierre Boulez: Piano Sonata No. 1

—— Intermission ——

Pierre Boulez: Incises for Piano

Maurice Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit, M. 55

*Program is subject to change.

Pierre-Laurent Aimard

Hailed by The Wall Street Journal as "a brilliant musician and an extraordinary visionary," Pierre-Laurent Aimard is widely acclaimed as a leading authority on contemporary music and is also recognized for his fresh interpretations of traditional repertoire.

In the 2024/25 season, Aimard will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel with ensembles including the Bern Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, SWR Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He will also mark the centenary of his mentor Pierre Boulez, appearing as a soloist with the HR Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Ensemble Intercontemporain, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and in recital at venues such as New York's Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Musikverein.

Other season highlights include performing the late Peter Eötvös's "Cziffra Psodia" with the Berlin Philharmonic and world premieres of new works by Mark André and George Benjamin.

Aimard has collaborated closely with leading contemporary composers including Helmut Lachenmann, Elliott Carter, and Olivier Messiaen, and has premiered many significant works. He continues his chamber music collaborations with partners like Tamara Stefanovich. His extensive recital schedule takes him to major venues and festivals worldwide, including the Amsterdam Muziekgebouw, Tokyo's Bunka Kaikan, and the Klavierfestival Ruhr.

His early 2024 release, "Schubert: Ländler," received a five-star review from BBC Music Magazine. This album is part of his acclaimed collaboration with Pentatone, which also includes recordings of Bartók's complete piano concertos, Messiaen's "Catalogue d'oiseaux" (which won several awards), and Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata.

An innovative curator and significant interpreter of piano repertoire from all eras, Aimard has directed residencies and groundbreaking projects at major international institutions. He was the Artistic Director of the Aldeburgh Festival from 2009 to 2016.

Aimard is the recipient of many prizes, including the 2017 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize and the 2022 Leonie Sonning Music Prize. A member of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts, he has held professorships in Cologne and Paris. In spring 2020, he re-launched the online teaching platform "Explore the Score" in collaboration with the Klavier-Festival Ruhr, focusing on György Ligeti's piano music.