Serialist, modernist, conductor and founder of Ensemble intercontemporainīoulez is simply the best! Musically speaking, not only was he ground-breaking at the time, but his harmony and sonority are always gorgeous – if you slice his music, every bit is beautiful. Read reviews of Schumann latest recordings here 48 Pierre Boulez (1925-2016)
craftmanship – from a technical point of view, how brilliantly constructed is their music?.impact – how greatly did they influence the musical scene both in their own lifetime and in years/centuries to come?.originality – to what extent did your chosen composers take music in new and exciting directions?.
To clarify things, we set out the criteria for greatness as follows: Nonetheless, when faced with the same question, Ferneyhough gamely named his top five – as did 173 other leading composers from across the globe.