BOULEZ ENSEMBLE XXVII

After concerts dedicated to compositions of Boulez, Ligeti, and Ustvolskaya, the Boulez Ensemble presents a fourth “monothematic” program with this homage to Igor Stravinsky. The three works reflect the composer’s transition from the “Russian” style of his earlier years to his neo-classical period: Les Noces, a ballet about a Russian peasant wedding begun in 1914 but not premiered until nearly a decade later, once more reveals Stravinsky’s fascination with the traditional music of his homeland. The Symphonies of Wind Instruments from 1920 and the Wind Octet, written a few years later, marked the beginning of his exploration of 18th-century techniques and forms.