In the latest installment of the series Discover Music with Simon Rattle, produced by the ARD Klassik channel, Sir Simon Rattle invites us into a deeply personal encounter with Pierre Boulez’s Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna. This is far more than a technical lecture; it is a profound tribute to his late mentor and friend, a composer Rattle credits with shaping much of his musical world.
Written as a “sonorous monument” to the conductor and composer Bruno Maderna, the piece is a masterpiece of spatial organization. The Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (BRSO) is divided into eight distinct groups, each moving through ceremonial, rhythmic cycles that create a haunting, immersive landscape. Rattle describes it as one of the most poignant orchestral works of our time—a piece that leaves an indelible mark on the listener from the very first encounter.
The first video offers a rare, “front-row” look at the rehearsal process, showing how Rattle thinks, probs, and shapes the complex architecture of the score. The second video presents the complete performance, allowing the full weight of Boulez’s ritualistic vision to unfold.
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