Pierre Boulez was a French composer, conductor, and music theorist. He was one of the most influential figures in 20th-century classical music and is widely regarded as one of the greatest conductors of all time. He was known for his innovative and pioneering work in the field of conducting, composition, and music theory. He was also a major figure in the development of modernist music and was a key figure in the development of electronic music. Boulez was a prolific conductor, having conducted over 200 orchestras in more than 50 countries. He was also a professor at the Paris Conservatory and held the position of director of the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM) from 1977 to 1995. Boulez was awarded numerous honors throughout his career, including the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, the Royal Philharmonic Society's Gold Medal, and the Polar Music Prize.