Matthias Pintscher appointed Music Director of the Ensemble intercontemporain

06.22.12
Matthias Pintscher

Following the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Ensemble intercontemporain on June 20, 2012, Chairman Henri Loyrette announced the appointment of Matthias Pintscher to the position of Music Director, beginning in the 2013-14 season, for an initial period of three years. He will succeed Susanna Mälkki, who has assumed the post in 2006.

German-born conductor and composer Matthias Pintscher, 41, now based in New York City, is well known throughout the world of contemporary music. Since his 20s he has been in the forefront of composers commissioned to write for leading orchestras, from the Chicago Symphony to the Berliner Philharmoniker and ensembles from the Ensemble Modern to the Ensemble intercontemporain. This summer, the Cleveland Orchestra will premiere his new work Chute d’Étoiles - commissioned by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. - at the Lucerne Festival, followed by November premieres in Cleveland and New York City’s Carnegie Hall. He is currently Artist-in- Association at the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, a title which was conferred upon him following a single appearance to conduct a studio recording of Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony. Matthias Pintscher now guest conducts major orchestras throughout the United States, Australia and Europe.

Founded in 1976 by Pierre Boulez, who remains its Honorary President, the Ensemble intercontemporain is one of the best known contemporary music ensembles in the world. The Ensemble intercontemporain is a model of a new orchestral ensemble, specifically intended to promote, advocate and experiment with modern and contemporary 20th and 21st century musical idioms. Its core of 31 soloists plays a wide range of ensemble literature in all combinations of instruments. Matthias Pintscher succeeds its distinguished list of former music directors, beginning with composer-conductor Peter Eötvös (1979-1991), David Robertson (1992- 2000), Jonathan Nott (2000-2003) who became first guest conductor from 2003 till 2005 and most recently Susanna Mälkki (2006-2013).

"I am very excited about my nomination as the next music director of the Ensemble intercontemporain, an orchestra that has exerted a strong influence on my musical upbringing as a contemporary musician. Feeling very rooted in Paris for a long time and strongly nourished by the French culture and music, this seems to be a perfect fit for me at this point of my life. I feel very inspired by this new perspective of creating a new and energized vision for the music of our time and its relation to the repertoire of the 20th century, together with the expectation to shape together with my fabulous musicians and colleagues a strong artistic image of the Ensemble intercontemporain and its role in todays society."
Matthias Pintscher

"I have known Matthias Pintscher for a long time, and have conducted several of his works. I’ve been impressed by his development as a conductor recognized by top orchestras in both Europe and the United States. I believe he has the ability and many of the qualities needed to take on the responsibility as musical director of the Ensemble intercontemporain. I also know he has the passion, and that the musicians and members of our team are ready, to open with him a new chapter in our history. I am thrilled by this appointment which will lead the Ensemble into a new artistic era, and give it a major new artistic asset for the future."
Pierre Boulez
Honorary President

"From September 2013, a new musical era in the history of Ensemble intercontemporain begins, under the musical direction of Matthias Pintscher. Since the memorable concert he conducted in Paris in December 2011, and through meetings taking place during the last months, he has convinced us of his interest to innovate in the classic instrumental tradition, of his willingness to re-invent the shape of concerts, of his curiosity and desire to involve artists from other disciplines in our activities, all of which will nourish a new artistic design. The musicians, the Ensemble’s board, and the team are all very happy to welcome back a composer/conductor as musical director of the Ensemble intercontemporain."
Hervé Boutry
General Director