Pierre Boulez is among the most commanding musical figures of the second half of the 20th century. Born on , in Montbrison, a small town near Lyon, France, he first studied mathematics and engineering before turning to music.
In 1942, during the German occupation of France, the young Boulez enrolled at the Paris Conservatoire. One of his teachers was the celebrated composer Olivier Messiaen , who introduced his pupil to contemporary developments in concert music. Another...