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Pierre Boulez and Cynthia Yeh at a performance of Bartók's Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion, and Orchestra with pianists Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Tamara Stafanovich and the CSO, Jan 21, 2010
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Principal percussion Cynthia Yeh shares a fond memory of Pierre Boulez (1925–2016) in honor of his centennial.
I have such fond memories of Maestro Boulez, not only because I am forever grateful to him for hiring me but also because of our very first meeting.
When I found out that I got the job with the CSO, I was told that the maestro would like to meet me. I went downstairs, and there he was, standing at the door, arms wide open with a big beaming smile. I was so giddy and excited that I thought he wanted to give me a hug, so I wrapped my arms around him and gave HIM a huge hug. My brain then processed a second later, as he patted me on the back, that he was simply holding his dressing room door open to welcome me into the room. I will forever see that beaming and grandfatherly smile from Maestro Boulez.
