Ircam's 30th Anniversary: Frank Madlener on New Directions

The Institut de Recherche et de Coordination Acoustique/Musique (Ircam), founded by Pierre Boulez, celebrates its 30th anniversary in June 2007 with the Festival Agora (Utopia and Exotica, June 6–24). Ircam, an associated department of the Centre Pompidou with independent status, began public activities in 1974, started operations in 1975, and inaugurated its concert hall in 1978, but dates its founding to 1977 to align with the Centre Pompidou. After a turbulent period under Bernard Stiegler (2002–2005) with three artistic directors in four years, Frank Madlener was promoted to general director on January 1, 2006. Madlener, born in 1968 to a French mother and German father, previously directed the Ars Musica festival in Brussels and Musica in Strasbourg. He aims to refocus Ircam on composers and performers, moving beyond solo-and-electronics pieces toward opera, orchestra, and interdisciplinary projects. Key initiatives include Jonathan Harvey's speaking orchestra (2008) and collaborations with visual artists like Pierre Huyghe. The festival will feature Harvey's opera merging Buddha and Wagner, and Valerio Sannicandro's piece for both Ircam and Centre Pompidou. Madlener plans to strengthen ties with the Ensemble Intercontemporain (EIC) and create an 'Ircam company' to tour strong projects. His mandate runs until 2010.