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{{Short description|Belgian pianist, composer and teacher (1936–2022)}}
'''Philippe Boesmans''' (born 17 May 1936) is a [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[composer]].
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Philippe Boesmans
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|05|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Tongeren]], Belgium
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|04|10|1936|05|17|df=yes}}
| death_place = Brussels, Belgium
| education = [[Royal Conservatory of Liège]]
| occupation = {{ ubl | Pianist | Composer | Academic teacher }}
| organizations = {{ ubl | [[RTBF]] | [[La Monnaie]] | Royal Conservatory of Liège }}
| awards = [[International Opera Award]]
}}
'''Philippe Boesmans''' (17 May 1936 – 10 April 2022)<ref name="Tobisch 2022">{{cite web | last=Tobisch | first=Léopold | title=Le compositeur Philippe Boesmans est mort | website=Radio France | date=11 April 2022 | url=https://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/le-compositeur-philippe-boesmans-est-mort-2671535 | language=fr | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref> was a Belgian pianist, composer and academic teacher. He studied to be a pianist at the [[Royal Conservatory of Liège]], and was self-taught as a composer, influenced by the Liège Group of [[Henri Pousseur]], [[André Souris]], and Célestin Deliège, and by attending the [[Darmstädter Ferienkurse]]. He worked for the [[RTBF|Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française]] (RTBF) from 1961, as a producer from 1971.

Boesman became primarily recognised for his operas, with works written for the Royal Opera House [[La Monnaie]] in Brussels as [[composer in residence]] since 1985. Four operas were written in collaboration with [[Luc Bondy]] who adapted plays for him, Schnitzler's ''[[La Ronde (play)|La Ronde]]'', Shakespeare's ''[[The Winter's Tale]]'', Strindberg's ''[[Miss Julie]]'' and ''Iwona, księżniczka Burgunda'' by [[Witold Gombrowicz]], and who directed the world premieres of the operas. ''[[Au monde]]'' was honoured with an [[International Opera Award]] in 2015. His last opera based on Feydeau's vaudeville 'On purge bébé' had its world premiere at La Monnaie in Brussels in December 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lamonnaiedemunt.be/en/program/2312-on-purge-bebe | title=On purge bébé ! &#124; Philippe Boesmans | date=13 December 2022 }}</ref>


==Life==
==Life==
Boesmans was born in [[Tongeren]] and studied piano at the Conservatory in [[Liège (city)|Liège]], where he was also introduced to serial composing techniques by Pierre Froidebise. However, it was only after coming into contact with the "Liège Group" ([[Henri Pousseur]], [[André Souris]], and Célestin Deliège) in 1957 that he began to write music, as a self-taught composer. Starting in 1962 he participated in productions of the Centre de Recherches Musicales de Wallonie, collaborating with Pousseur. He was also active as a pianist with the Ensemble Musique Nouvelle. Also in 1962 he became a producer at the [[RTBF|Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française (RTBF)]], working with the radio orchestra there. From this experience he learned much about composing and orchestrating music. Recognition quickly followed, and in 1971 he won the [[Prix Italia]] for his composition ''Upon La-Mi'' (Visscher 2001).
Boesmans was born in [[Tongeren]] and studied piano at the [[Royal Conservatory of Liège]],<ref name="Schott Music 1936">{{cite web | title=Philippe Boesmans |website=[[Schott Music]]| date=17 May 1936 | url=https://en.schott-music.com/shop/autoren/philippe-boesmans | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref> He studied first with {{ill|Robert Leudiran|fr}}, then with [[Stefan Askenase]] who advised him to not pursue a career as a concert pianist.<ref name="MGG Online 2022" /> At the conservatoire, he was also introduced to [[Serialism|serial composition techniques]] by [[Pierre Froidebise]]. However, it was only after coming into contact with the "Liège Group" of [[Henri Pousseur]], [[André Souris]], and {{ill|Célestin Deliège|fr}}) in 1957 that he began to write music, as a self-taught composer.<ref name="Pizzicato 2022" /> He attended courses at [[Darmstädter Ferienkurse]].<ref name="Deutschlandfunk">{{cite web | title=Orchestermusik von Philippe Boesmans / Magische, schillernde Klangspiele | website=[[Deutschlandfunk]] | date=17 November 2019 | url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/orchestermusik-von-philippe-boesmans-magische-schillernde-100.html | language=de | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref> He was also active as a pianist with the Ensemble Musique Nouvelle.<ref name="MGG Online 2022">{{cite web |first=Fernand |last=Leclercq | title=Boesmans, Philippe | website=MGG Online | date=7 April 2022 | url=https://www.mgg-online.com/article?id=mgg01721&v=1.0&rs=id-0f16227c-680b-e9ef-861a-bcf78723549a | language=de | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="Boesmans Renard Wangermée 2005 p. 26">{{cite book | last1=Boesmans | first1=P. | last2=Renard | first2=C. | last3=Wangermée | first3=R. | title=Philippe Boesmans: entretiens et témoignages | publisher=Conseil de la musique de la communauté française de Belgique | series=Collection Musique, musicologie | year=2005 | isbn=978-2-87009-890-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U9aXX7M3SVcC&pg=PA26 | language=fr | access-date=12 April 2022 | page=26}}</ref> In 1961 he became assistant, and in 1971 producer, at the [[RTBF|Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française]] (RTBF),<ref name="MGG Online 2022" /> working with the radio orchestra there.<ref name="RTBF 2022" /> From this experience he learned much about composing and orchestrating music. In 1965, he became a member of the [[Communist Party of Belgium|Communist Party]].<ref name="MGG Online 2022" /> In 1971 he won the [[Prix Italia]] for his composition ''Upon La-Mi'' for horn and voice which won him international recognition.<ref name="MGG Online 2022" />{{sfn|Visscher|2001}}<ref name="Deutschlandfunk" /> In 1971, he participated in productions of the Centre de Recherches Musicales de Wallonie, collaborating with Pousseur.<ref name="IRCAM">{{BrahmsOnline|IRCAM-name=philippe-boesmans}}</ref> His works have been performed at the most important festivals of contemporary music, such as Darmstadt, Warsaw, Brussels, Royan, Metz, Avignon, Zagreb, Montréal and Paris.<ref name="MGG Online 2022" /> For a short time, Boesmans taught piano and composition at the [[Royal Conservatory of Liège]].<ref name="Universität Mozarteum Salzburg">{{cite web | title=Department für Oper und Musiktheater – Bio_Boesmans | website=Universität Mozarteum Salzburg | url=http://oper.moz.ac.at/seiten/de/produktionen/spielzeit-201819/rg/bio_boesmans.php | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref>


He was composer in residence at the [[La Monnaie]] opera house in Brussels.<ref name="Schott Music 1936" /><ref name="RTBF 2022">{{cite web | title=Le compositeur belge Philippe Boesmans est décédé | website=RTBF | date=11 April 2022 | url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/le-compositeur-belge-philippe-boesmans-est-decede-10972861 | language=fr | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref> [[Luc Bondy]] adapted four operas for him and subsequently staged their world premieres.<ref name="Pizzicato 2022">{{cite web | title=Belgian composer Philippe Boesmans has died | website=Pizzicato | date=11 April 2022 | url=https://www.pizzicato.lu/belgian-composer-philippe-boesmans-has-died/ | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref> When his opera ''[[Reigen (opera)|Reigen]]'' was premiered in 1993, a reviewer of ''[[Le Monde]]'' wrote: "Reigen is perhaps the most successful opera of the last seventy years."<ref name="Le Monde.fr 1994">{{cite web | title=Musiques La Ronde des vanites – l'opéra exceptionnel de Philippe Boesmans, d'après la pièce de Schnitzler, est mis en scène à Bruxelles par Luc Bondy. Il sera à Paris le 25 novembre |website=[[Le Monde]]| date=16 November 1994 | url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1994/11/16/musiques-la-ronde-des-vanites-l-opera-exceptionnel-de-philippe-boesmans-d-apres-la-piece-de-schnitzler-est-mis-en-scene-a-bruxelles-par-luc-bondy-il-sera-a-paris-le-25-novembre_3844226_1819218.html | language=fr | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref> His opera ''[[Au monde]]'' won the [[International Opera Award]] 2015 in the category World Premiere.<ref name="Focus on Belgium 2015" /> He was bilingual in German and French.<ref name="Machart 2022" />
He still works as a producer for the RTBF and is composer in residence at the [[La Monnaie]] opera house in Brussels.


Boesmans died after a short illness on 10 April 2022 in Brussels, at the age of 85.<ref name="Machart 2022" /><ref name="Tomeo 2022">{{cite web | last=Tomeo | first=Marissa | title=Composer Philippe Boesmans Has Died | website=BroadwayWorld.com | date=11 April 2022 | url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwclassical/article/Composer-Philippe-Boesmans-Has-Died-20220411 | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref> He was honoured in a tribute concert at the Royal Opera House La Monnaie/De Munt on 19 April 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bx1.be/categories/news/la-monnaie-honorera-lors-dun-concert-le-compositeur-philippe-boesmans-decede-dimanche/ | title=La Monnaie honorera, lors d'un concert, le compositeur Philippe Boesmans, décédé dimanche | date=13 April 2022 }}</ref>
==Selected works==
;Opera
*''[[La Passion de Gilles]]'' (1983) Libretto by [[Pierre Mertens]].<ref>A guide to 20th-century composers Mark Morris - 1996 The opera La passion de Gilles (1983) is a dark story of perversion, malice, and child abuse, set in the 15th century and providing a commentary on the present day. Its colours are dark, intense, and sparse, in keeping with the subject,</ref>
*''[[Reigen (opera)|Reigen]]'' (1993); based on ''[[La Ronde (play)|La Ronde]]'' by [[Arthur Schnitzler]]<ref>Recording [[Cypres]] Review Le Monde "the greatest opera of the last 75 years."</ref>
*''[[Wintermärchen]]'' (1999); based on ''[[The Winter's Tale]]'' by [[William Shakespeare]].<ref>Recording DG . Sung in German, in scene four the language changes from German to English and Boesmans introduces [[AKA Moon]], a jazz/funk group.</ref>
*''[[Julie (opera)|Julie]]'' (2005); based on ''[[Miss Julie]]'' by [[August Strindberg]]<ref>Recording ''Julie'' [[Garry Magee]], Malena Ernman, Monnaie Chamber Orchestra, Ono. Label: Cypres , DDD, 2005 (CYP4626)</ref><ref>DVD Garry Magee, Malena Ernman, Kerstin Avemo, [[Monnaie Chamber Orchestra]], [[Kazushi Ono]] Label: BelAir , 2005</ref>
*''[[Yvonne, princesse de Bourgogne]]'' (2009); based on ''[[Iwona, księżniczka Burgunda]]'' by [[Witold Gombrowicz]]<ref>Recording [[Opéra National de Paris]] [[Mireille Delunsch]] and [[Yann Beuron]]. Cypres 2011 [[Klangforum Wien]], [[Sylvain Cambreling]]</ref>
*''[[Poppea e Nerone]]'' (2012); New orchestration, for a modern chamber orchestra, of [[Claudio Monteverdi|Monteverdi]]'s ''[[L'Incoronazione di Poppea]]'.<ref>First performed at [[Teatro Real]] in [[Madrid]], conducted by Sylvain Cambreling and directed by [[Krzysztof Warlikowski]].</ref>


==Composition style==
;Other
Boesmans early works were strongly influenced by [[serialism]].<ref name="Deutschlandfunk" /> After that, clear structures, periodically recurring rhythms, [[Consonance and dissonance|consonance]]s and melodic elements characterise his musical language.<ref name="Deutschlandfunk" /> The aesthetics of his works has been called "trompe l'oreille" (trick the ear).<ref name="Deutschlandfunk" /> His instrumentations are characterised by intense timbre constellations.<ref name="Deutschlandfunk" /> He alluded to works of others not by exact quotations, but so-called "stylistic quotations" or "gestural quotations".<ref name="Machart 2022" />
*Violin Concerto (1980)
*String Quartet No.1 (1988)
*''Surfing'' for viola and orchestra (1990)
*''Love and Dance Tunes'' for baritone and piano (1993); settings from [[Shakespeare's sonnets]]
*''Summer Dreams'', String Quartet No.2 (1994)


==Sources==
== Works==
Source:<ref name="IRCAM" />

'''Operas'''
* ''La Passion de Gilles'' (1983), libretto by [[Pierre Mertens]]{{sfn|Morris|1996|loc={{Page needed|date=May 2015}}}}
* ''[[Reigen (opera)|Reigen]]'' (1993); libretto by Luc Bondy based on Schnitzler's ''[[La Ronde (play)|Der Reigen]]'' (''La Ronde'').<ref name="Le Monde.fr 1994" /><ref name="Machart 2022">{{cite web | last=Machart|first=Renaud|author-link=Renaud Machart| title=Le compositeur belge Philippe Boesmans est mort |website=[[Le Monde]]| date=11 April 2022 | url=https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2022/04/11/le-compositeur-belge-philippe-boesmans-est-mort_6121690_3246.html | language=fr | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref>
* ''[[Wintermärchen]]'' (1999), libretto by Bondy based on Shakespeare's ''[[The Winter's Tale]]''.<ref name="Machart 2022" />
* ''[[Julie (opera)|Julie]]'' (2005); libretto by Bondy based on Strindberg's ''[[Miss Julie]]''.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Farthofer | first=Lisa | title=Die Unheimlichkeit des Menschlichen – zu ''Julie'' von Philippe Boesmans |journal=[[Österreichische Musikzeitschrift]]| publisher=Boehlau Verlag| volume=60 | issue=5 | year=2005 | issn=2307-2970 | doi=10.7767/omz.2005.60.5.27 | page=| s2cid=163467861 }}</ref><ref name="Tunbridge pp. 504–511">{{cite journal | last=Tunbridge | first=L. | title=Philippe Boesmans: ''Julie''|journal=[[The Opera Quarterly]]| publisher=Oxford University Press (OUP) | volume=23 | issue=4 | date=14 November 2008 | issn=0736-0053 | doi=10.1093/oq/kbn052 | pages=504–511}}</ref>
* ''[[Yvonne, princesse de Bourgogne]]'' (2009), libretto by Bondy based on ''{{ill|Iwona, księżniczka Burgunda|pl}}''.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Ender | first=Daniel | title=Philippe Boesmans ''Yvonne, princesse de Bourgogne''|journal=[[Österreichische Musikzeitschrift]]| publisher=Boehlau Verlag| volume=64 | issue=5 | year=2009 | issn=2307-2970 | doi=10.7767/omz.2009.64.5.4 | page=| s2cid=163499322 }}</ref>
* ''Poppea e Nerone'' (2012), new orchestration for a modern chamber orchestra of Monteverdi's ''[[L'incoronazione di Poppea]]''. First performed at [[Teatro Real]] in Madrid, conducted by [[Sylvain Cambreling]] and directed by [[Krzysztof Warlikowski]].<ref name="IRCAM Poppea">{{IRCAM work|id=31873|title=''Poppea e Nerone''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=[t]akte: Neues altes Meisterwerk. Philippe Boesmans' Bearbeitung von Monteverdis ''L'incoronazione di Poppea''| website=[t]akte | url=https://www.takte-online.de/musiktheater/detailansicht-musiktheater/artikel/neues-altes-meisterwerk-philippe-boesmans-bearbeitung-von-monteverdis-lincoronazione-di-poppea/index.htm | language=de | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref>
* ''[[Au monde]]'' (2014), libretto by {{ill|Joël Pommerat|fr}} after his own play.<ref name="Focus on Belgium 2015">{{cite web | title=Au Monde wins Best World Premiere Award at the International Opera Awards | website=Focus on Belgium | date=10 July 2015 | url=https://focusonbelgium.be/en/culture/au-monde-wins-best-world-premiere-award-international-opera-awards | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="Gramophone">{{cite web | last = Ashman | first = Mike | title=Boesmans Au Monde | website=[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]] | url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/boesmans-au-monde | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="Boesmans Colette 2014">{{cite web | last=Boesmans | first=Philippe | title=Au Monde | website=Opéra Comique | date=30 March 2014 | url=https://www.opera-comique.com/en/shows/au-monde | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref>
* ''[[Pinocchio (Boesmans)|Pinocchio]]'' (2017), libretto by Pommerat after Collodi's 1883 ''[[The Adventures of Pinocchio]]''.{{sfn|Festival International d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence|2016}}
* ''[[On Purge bébé! (opera)|On Purge bébé!]]'' (2022), libretto by {{ill|Richard Brunel|fr}} after a play by [[Georges Feydeau]], to be premiered posthumously in December 2022.<ref name="La Monnaie / De Munt_2">{{cite web | title=On purge bébé | website=La Monnaie / De Munt | url=https://www.lamonnaiedemunt.be/en/program/2312-on-purge-bebe | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref>

'''Other compositions'''
* Violin Concerto (1980)
* String Quartet No. 1 (1988)
* ''Surfing'' for viola and orchestra (1990)
* ''Love and Dance Tunes'' for baritone and piano (1993); settings from [[Shakespeare's sonnets]]
* ''Summer Dreams'', String Quartet No. 2 (1994)

== Discography ==
* ''[[Georg Trakl|Trakl]] Lieder''; String Quartet [No. 1]; ''Surfing''. Françoise Pollet (soprano), Orchestre du [[La Monnaie|Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie]], conducted by [[Sylvain Cambreling]]; [[Arditti Quartet|Arditti String Quartet]]; [[Christophe Desjardins]] (viola), Ensemble Musique Nouvelle, conducted by Georges Elie Octors. ''Trakl Lieder'' recorded live, [[Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels|Palais des Beaux-Arts]], Brussels, 14 April 1990; String Quartet recorded at the [[Royal Conservatory of Liège]], 24 March 1990; ''Surfing'' recorded at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, 4 June 1990. CD recording, 1 audio disc: digital, 12&nbsp;cm, stereo. Ricercar RIC 083065. Anloy: SPRL Ricercar, [n.d.]. {{OCLC|25875206}}
* {{citation | title=Reigen | publisher=Ricercar; Distrib. Musidisc | year=1995 | oclc=659244085 | language=de}}
* {{citation | title=Wintermärchen | publisher=[[Deutsche Grammophon]]; distribution: Universal Division Polydor | year=2001 | oclc=658728338 | language=de}} [[Dale Duesing]]; [[Susan Chilcott]]; [[Antonio Pappano]]. Sung in German; in scene four, the language changes from German to English and Boesmans introduces AKA Moon, a jazz/funk group.
* ''Julie''. Garry Magee, [[Malena Ernman]], Monnaie Chamber Orchestra, [[Kazushi Ōno]]. CD recording. Cypres (CYP4626), 2005. {{OCLC|315734451}}
* {{citation | title=Yvonne, princesse de Bourgogne | publisher=Kastafior | year=2010 | oclc=873502768 | language=fr}} [[Opéra National de Paris]] [[Mireille Delunsch]] and [[Yann Beuron]]. Cypres, 2011 [[Klangforum Wien]], [[Sylvain Cambreling]]. [[Diapason d'Or]]<ref name="Forum des Compositeurs 2022">{{cite web | title=Boesmans | website=Forum des Compositeurs | date=27 March 2022 | url=http://www.compositeurs.be/en/philippe_boesmans | access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref>

==Filmography==
*''Julie''. Garry Magee, Malena Ernman, Kerstin Avemo, Monnaie Chamber Orchestra, Kazushi Ōno. DVD recording. BelAir, 2005. {{OCLC|605048279}}

== Awards ==
* 1971: [[Prix Italia]]<ref name="Schott Music 1936" />
* 2000: Prix Arthur Honegger<ref name="Schott Music 1936" />
* 2004: SACD Music Prize<ref name="Schott Music 1936" />

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
*{{BrahmsOnline|472}}
*Deliège, Célestin, Bernard Foccroule, and Claude Ledoux. 1983. ''Philippe Boesmans''. Paris and Brussels: Opéra national de Belgique & Éditions BEBA.
*Visscher, Eric de. 2001. "Boesmans, Philippe". ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'', second edition, edited by [[Stanley Sadie]] and [[John Tyrrell (professor of music)|John Tyrrell]]. London: Macmillan Publishers.


'''Sources'''
{{Authority control|VIAF=117385546}}
* {{cite book | last=Morris | first=Mark | title=A Guide to 20th-century Composers | publisher=Methuen | publication-place=London | year=1996 | isbn=978-0-413-45601-4 | oclc=36165560 |quote=The opera ''La passion de Gilles'' (1983) is a dark story of perversion, malice, and child abuse, set in the 15th century and providing a commentary on the present day. Its colours are dark, intense, and sparse, in keeping with the subject}}
* {{cite web | title=Pinocchio | website=Festival International d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence | date=17 December 2016 | url=https://festival-aix.com/fr/evenement/pinocchio | language=fr | ref={{sfnref | Festival International d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence | 2016}} | access-date=12 April 2022}}
* {{citation | last=Visscher | first=Eric de | chapter=Boesmans, Philippe |title=[[The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians]] | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2001 | doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.03383| isbn=9781561592630 }}, second edition, edited by [[Stanley Sadie]] and [[John Tyrrell (musicologist)|John Tyrrell]]. London: Macmillan.

==Further reading==
* Auzolle, Cécile. 2014. "Vers l'étrangeté, ou l'opéra selon Philippe Boesmans". Arles: Actes sud.
* {{ill|Célestin Deliège|fr|lt=Deliège, Célestin}}, Bernard Foccroule, and Claude Ledoux. 1983. ''Philippe Boesmans''. Paris and Brussels: Opéra national de Belgique & Éditions BEBA.
* Dufour, Valérie. 2005. "Catalogue de l'œuvre de Philippe Boesmans". In ''Philippe Boesmans: entretiens et témoignages'', edited by Christian Renard and Robert Wangermée, 203–260. Sprimont: Pierre Mardaga. {{ISBN|2-87009-890-1}}
* {{cite web | title=Philippe Boesmans | publisher=[[La Monnaie]] / De Munt | date=17 May 1936 | url=https://www.lamonnaiedemunt.be/en/mmm-online/2385-philippe-boesmans | access-date=12 April 2022}}

==External links==
* {{discogs artist|Philippe Boesmans}}
* {{IMDb name|1672590}}

{{Philippe Boesmans}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Classical music|Opera}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Boesmans, Philippe
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Belgian composer
| DATE OF BIRTH = 17 May 1936
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boesmans, Philippe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boesmans, Philippe}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Belgian classical composers]]
[[Category:Members of the Royal Academy of Belgium]]
[[Category:Belgian opera composers]]
[[Category:Belgian male opera composers]]
[[Category:People from Tongeren]]
[[Category:People from Tongeren]]
[[Category:Belgian composers]]
[[Category:Opera composers]]


{{Belgium-composer-stub}}

Latest revision as of 05:17, 11 April 2024

Philippe Boesmans
Born(1936-05-17)17 May 1936
Tongeren, Belgium
Died10 April 2022(2022-04-10) (aged 85)
Brussels, Belgium
EducationRoyal Conservatory of Liège
Occupations
  • Pianist
  • Composer
  • Academic teacher
Organizations
AwardsInternational Opera Award

Philippe Boesmans (17 May 1936 – 10 April 2022)[1] was a Belgian pianist, composer and academic teacher. He studied to be a pianist at the Royal Conservatory of Liège, and was self-taught as a composer, influenced by the Liège Group of Henri Pousseur, André Souris, and Célestin Deliège, and by attending the Darmstädter Ferienkurse. He worked for the Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française (RTBF) from 1961, as a producer from 1971.

Boesman became primarily recognised for his operas, with works written for the Royal Opera House La Monnaie in Brussels as composer in residence since 1985. Four operas were written in collaboration with Luc Bondy who adapted plays for him, Schnitzler's La Ronde, Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, Strindberg's Miss Julie and Iwona, księżniczka Burgunda by Witold Gombrowicz, and who directed the world premieres of the operas. Au monde was honoured with an International Opera Award in 2015. His last opera based on Feydeau's vaudeville 'On purge bébé' had its world premiere at La Monnaie in Brussels in December 2022.[2]

Life

[edit]

Boesmans was born in Tongeren and studied piano at the Royal Conservatory of Liège,[3] He studied first with Robert Leudiran [fr], then with Stefan Askenase who advised him to not pursue a career as a concert pianist.[4] At the conservatoire, he was also introduced to serial composition techniques by Pierre Froidebise. However, it was only after coming into contact with the "Liège Group" of Henri Pousseur, André Souris, and Célestin Deliège [fr]) in 1957 that he began to write music, as a self-taught composer.[5] He attended courses at Darmstädter Ferienkurse.[6] He was also active as a pianist with the Ensemble Musique Nouvelle.[4][7] In 1961 he became assistant, and in 1971 producer, at the Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française (RTBF),[4] working with the radio orchestra there.[8] From this experience he learned much about composing and orchestrating music. In 1965, he became a member of the Communist Party.[4] In 1971 he won the Prix Italia for his composition Upon La-Mi for horn and voice which won him international recognition.[4][9][6] In 1971, he participated in productions of the Centre de Recherches Musicales de Wallonie, collaborating with Pousseur.[10] His works have been performed at the most important festivals of contemporary music, such as Darmstadt, Warsaw, Brussels, Royan, Metz, Avignon, Zagreb, Montréal and Paris.[4] For a short time, Boesmans taught piano and composition at the Royal Conservatory of Liège.[11]

He was composer in residence at the La Monnaie opera house in Brussels.[3][8] Luc Bondy adapted four operas for him and subsequently staged their world premieres.[5] When his opera Reigen was premiered in 1993, a reviewer of Le Monde wrote: "Reigen is perhaps the most successful opera of the last seventy years."[12] His opera Au monde won the International Opera Award 2015 in the category World Premiere.[13] He was bilingual in German and French.[14]

Boesmans died after a short illness on 10 April 2022 in Brussels, at the age of 85.[14][15] He was honoured in a tribute concert at the Royal Opera House La Monnaie/De Munt on 19 April 2022.[16]

Composition style

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Boesmans early works were strongly influenced by serialism.[6] After that, clear structures, periodically recurring rhythms, consonances and melodic elements characterise his musical language.[6] The aesthetics of his works has been called "trompe l'oreille" (trick the ear).[6] His instrumentations are characterised by intense timbre constellations.[6] He alluded to works of others not by exact quotations, but so-called "stylistic quotations" or "gestural quotations".[14]

Works

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Source:[10]

Operas

Other compositions

  • Violin Concerto (1980)
  • String Quartet No. 1 (1988)
  • Surfing for viola and orchestra (1990)
  • Love and Dance Tunes for baritone and piano (1993); settings from Shakespeare's sonnets
  • Summer Dreams, String Quartet No. 2 (1994)

Discography

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  • Trakl Lieder; String Quartet [No. 1]; Surfing. Françoise Pollet (soprano), Orchestre du Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, conducted by Sylvain Cambreling; Arditti String Quartet; Christophe Desjardins (viola), Ensemble Musique Nouvelle, conducted by Georges Elie Octors. Trakl Lieder recorded live, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, 14 April 1990; String Quartet recorded at the Royal Conservatory of Liège, 24 March 1990; Surfing recorded at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, 4 June 1990. CD recording, 1 audio disc: digital, 12 cm, stereo. Ricercar RIC 083065. Anloy: SPRL Ricercar, [n.d.]. OCLC 25875206
  • Reigen (in German), Ricercar; Distrib. Musidisc, 1995, OCLC 659244085
  • Wintermärchen (in German), Deutsche Grammophon; distribution: Universal Division Polydor, 2001, OCLC 658728338 Dale Duesing; Susan Chilcott; Antonio Pappano. Sung in German; in scene four, the language changes from German to English and Boesmans introduces AKA Moon, a jazz/funk group.
  • Julie. Garry Magee, Malena Ernman, Monnaie Chamber Orchestra, Kazushi Ōno. CD recording. Cypres (CYP4626), 2005. OCLC 315734451
  • Yvonne, princesse de Bourgogne (in French), Kastafior, 2010, OCLC 873502768 Opéra National de Paris Mireille Delunsch and Yann Beuron. Cypres, 2011 Klangforum Wien, Sylvain Cambreling. Diapason d'Or[27]

Filmography

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  • Julie. Garry Magee, Malena Ernman, Kerstin Avemo, Monnaie Chamber Orchestra, Kazushi Ōno. DVD recording. BelAir, 2005. OCLC 605048279

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ Tobisch, Léopold (11 April 2022). "Le compositeur Philippe Boesmans est mort". Radio France (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  2. ^ "On purge bébé ! | Philippe Boesmans". 13 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Philippe Boesmans". Schott Music. 17 May 1936. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Leclercq, Fernand (7 April 2022). "Boesmans, Philippe". MGG Online (in German). Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Belgian composer Philippe Boesmans has died". Pizzicato. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Orchestermusik von Philippe Boesmans / Magische, schillernde Klangspiele". Deutschlandfunk (in German). 17 November 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  7. ^ Boesmans, P.; Renard, C.; Wangermée, R. (2005). Philippe Boesmans: entretiens et témoignages. Collection Musique, musicologie (in French). Conseil de la musique de la communauté française de Belgique. p. 26. ISBN 978-2-87009-890-5. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Le compositeur belge Philippe Boesmans est décédé". RTBF (in French). 11 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  9. ^ Visscher 2001.
  10. ^ a b "Philippe Boesmans (biography, works, resources)" (in French and English). IRCAM.
  11. ^ "Department für Oper und Musiktheater – Bio_Boesmans". Universität Mozarteum Salzburg. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Musiques La Ronde des vanites – l'opéra exceptionnel de Philippe Boesmans, d'après la pièce de Schnitzler, est mis en scène à Bruxelles par Luc Bondy. Il sera à Paris le 25 novembre". Le Monde (in French). 16 November 1994. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Au Monde wins Best World Premiere Award at the International Opera Awards". Focus on Belgium. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d e Machart, Renaud (11 April 2022). "Le compositeur belge Philippe Boesmans est mort". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  15. ^ Tomeo, Marissa (11 April 2022). "Composer Philippe Boesmans Has Died". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  16. ^ "La Monnaie honorera, lors d'un concert, le compositeur Philippe Boesmans, décédé dimanche". 13 April 2022.
  17. ^ Morris 1996, [page needed].
  18. ^ Farthofer, Lisa (2005). "Die Unheimlichkeit des Menschlichen – zu Julie von Philippe Boesmans". Österreichische Musikzeitschrift. 60 (5). Boehlau Verlag. doi:10.7767/omz.2005.60.5.27. ISSN 2307-2970. S2CID 163467861.
  19. ^ Tunbridge, L. (14 November 2008). "Philippe Boesmans: Julie". The Opera Quarterly. 23 (4). Oxford University Press (OUP): 504–511. doi:10.1093/oq/kbn052. ISSN 0736-0053.
  20. ^ Ender, Daniel (2009). "Philippe Boesmans Yvonne, princesse de Bourgogne". Österreichische Musikzeitschrift. 64 (5). Boehlau Verlag. doi:10.7767/omz.2009.64.5.4. ISSN 2307-2970. S2CID 163499322.
  21. ^ "Poppea e Nerone" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  22. ^ "[t]akte: Neues altes Meisterwerk. Philippe Boesmans' Bearbeitung von Monteverdis L'incoronazione di Poppea". [t]akte (in German). Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  23. ^ Ashman, Mike. "Boesmans Au Monde". Gramophone. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  24. ^ Boesmans, Philippe (30 March 2014). "Au Monde". Opéra Comique. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  25. ^ Festival International d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence 2016.
  26. ^ "On purge bébé". La Monnaie / De Munt. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Boesmans". Forum des Compositeurs. 27 March 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.

Sources

Further reading

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  • Auzolle, Cécile. 2014. "Vers l'étrangeté, ou l'opéra selon Philippe Boesmans". Arles: Actes sud.
  • Deliège, Célestin [fr], Bernard Foccroule, and Claude Ledoux. 1983. Philippe Boesmans. Paris and Brussels: Opéra national de Belgique & Éditions BEBA.
  • Dufour, Valérie. 2005. "Catalogue de l'œuvre de Philippe Boesmans". In Philippe Boesmans: entretiens et témoignages, edited by Christian Renard and Robert Wangermée, 203–260. Sprimont: Pierre Mardaga. ISBN 2-87009-890-1
  • "Philippe Boesmans". La Monnaie / De Munt. 17 May 1936. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
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