For more then six decades, Pierre Boulez has had greater influence on the development of contemporary music than anyone else. Already in younger days, he gained a reputation as a doughty champion of the avant-garde. With his compositions, interpretations, and ideas he indelibly shaped the international music scene - not only as a composer and conductor, but also as a music philosopher and teacher. For the past five summers, Pierre Boulez and highly gifted young musicians from all over the world have converged for intensive rehearsal weeks during which they learn from the maestro and one another, discuss and play selected compositions, and finally present subsequently the fruits of their labour in a number of outstanding concerts. To convey the fascination for contemporary music, the documentary captures the perspectives of Pierre Boulez and the young conductors, composers, and musicians involved. Their infectious enthusiasm gives viewers an emotional access to the world of new music. Accompanied with retrospective accounts, this endeavour narrates significant experiences and encounters in Boulez' career and gives a graphical depiction of the way he passes these experiences on to his current students. Consequently, this makes selected works by Stravinsky, Stockhausen, and Boulez more approachable. On a different level, it demonstrates how strongly personal experiences leave their mark on individual action, aesthetic sensitivity, and our perception of others. This film is a homage to the composer, conductor, and teacher Pierre Boulez.
