Recording Academy Issues Statement on Passing of Pierre Boulez

The New York Times reports that French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, a dominant figure in classical music for over fifty years, passed away on Tuesday, January 5th at his home in Baden-Baden, Germany. He was 90. The news was later confirmed by his family in a statement to the Philharmonie de Paris.

Today, The Recording Academy issued the following statement on his passing:

Jan. 6, 2016

Pierre Boulez was a remarkable talent as a classical composer, conductor and deep thinker about music. With 26 GRAMMYs®, he is among the most recognized artists by GRAMMY® voters. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy in 2015. Pierre was both respectful of the masters as well as a proponent of new music in both his compositions and as a conductor.

He was active well into his 80s, and his inquisitive approach to music influenced many who followed him. While he will be greatly missed, his contributions to music will live on. We offer our condolences to his family, friends and creative collaborators.

Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy