Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard is a specialist in contemporary music and in its relationship to the traditional repertory. Emerging from the circle of Olivier Messiaen, he has focused on the music of the European avant-garde of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In 1976, Aimard was invited by Pierre Boulez to join the new Ensemble InterContemporain as pianist. Aimard remained in that position for 18 years. His recitals, often held in Paris and Lyon, have included a series called Piano in the 20th Century, and they often pair contemporary and traditional works inventively. Aimard has also appeared as a conductor. In 1996, he recorded an album of György Ligeti's piano music. In 2017, he signed a new contract with the PentaTone label, releasing several albums there, including a recording of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 ("Hammerklavier") in 2021.