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A soloists ensemble

In 1976, Pierre Boulez founded the Ensemble intercontemporain with the support of Michel Guy (who was Minister of Culture at the time) and the collaboration of Nicholas Snowman.

The Ensemble’s 31 soloists share a passion for 20th-21st century music. They are employed on permanent contracts, enabling them to fulfil the major aims of the Ensemble: performance, creation and education for young musicians and the general public. Under the artistic direction of French conductor Pierre Bleuse the musicians work in close collaboration with composers, exploring instrumental techniques and developing projects that interweave music, dance, theater, film, video and visual arts.

In collaboration with IRCAM (Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique), the Ensemble intercontemporain is also active in the field of synthetic sound generation. New pieces are commissioned and performed on a regular basis.

The Ensemble is renowned for its strong emphasis on music education: concerts for kids, creative workshops for students, training programs for future performers, conductors, composers, etc.

Resident of the Cité de la musique – Philharmonie de Paris, the Ensemble performs and records in France and abroad, taking part in major festivals worldwide.

The Ensemble is financed by the Ministry of Culture and receives additional support from the Paris City Council. In 2022, it was awarded the prestigious Polar Music Prize.

Pierre Bleuse

Music director

Pierre Bleuse is fast becoming one of the most exciting and sought-after conductors. In December 2021,  the Ensemble intercontemporain appointed him  as Music Director of the ensemble for a first term of four years to commence with the 2023/24 season.
He is Chief Conductor of Odense Symphony Orchestra since the 2021/22 season, as well as Artistic Director of renowned Pablo Casals Festival in Prades (France).
Recent highlights include invitations to major orchestras such as Orchestre de Paris, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, MDR Sinfonieorchester [Leipzig], Tonkünstler Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Berner Symphonieorchester, kammerorchesterbasel and Orchestre de chambre de Paris,  Brussels Philharmonic, Belgium National Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic of Russia, o Paulo State Symphony Orchestra and Utah Symphony. 
He continues to consolidate his role in French musical life, regularly appearing with Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre National de France, Opéra National de Lyon, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Orchestre National d’Île-de-France, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine…
He regularly works with some of the most sought-after international soloists such as Sol Gabetta, Nicholas Angelich, Bertrand Chamayou, Truls Mørk, Emmanuel Pahud, Renaud and Gautier Capuçon. In his role as cultural leader, Pierre Bleuse founded the Musika Orchestra Academy in Toulouse in 2008, bringing together talented young musicians from around the world to offer them professional orchestral experience and career support.
Pierre Bleuse studied conducting with Jorma Panula in Finland and Laurent Gay at the Haute École de Genève. Originally trained as a violinist, he served as concertmaster and Associate Conductor of the Toulouse Chamber Orchestra (2000-10) and was a member of the Satie Quartet.

The soloists of the Ensemble