In these uncertain times, ULYSSES network puts its faith in the future by promoting a new generation of musicians. Last winter, 14 instrumentalists, who applied to a call on the ULYSSES platform, were selected, among 107 candidates, by a panel made of 2 soloists from the Ensemble intercontemporain, conductor Jean-Philippe Wurtz (Fondation Royaumont), composers Oliver Rappoport and Oriol Saladrigues (Festival Mixtur).
After a long period far from stages and venues, the sinfionetta finally met in Paris last June. A true relief for the 3 partners involved in the ULYSSES ensemble 2021 tour: IRCAM, Fondation Royaumont, Mixtur Festival.
Photo © Quentin Chevrier
The first stop in the IRCAM academy, part of ManiFeste-2021 festival, offered young artists the opportunity to both learn and express their creativity, surrounded by outstanding figures of contemporary music: marvellous musicians from the Ensemble intercontemporain, fantastic French conductor Pierre Bleuse, inspiring soloists Nicholas Isherwood and Nicolas Crosse.
Photo © Quentin Chevrier
Photo © Quentin Chevrier
Photo © Quentin Chevrier
In CENQUATRE-PARIS, young musicians had the opportunity to work on 2 repertoire pieces: Partiels by Gérard Grisey and Introduction aux Ténèbres by Raphaël Cendo, guest composer of the academy. During rehearsals, they took advantage of Cendo’s advices to rerun his piece which electronics was developed in IRCAM studio in 2009.
Photo © Quentin Chevrier
They also worked closely with Filipino, Austria-based, composer Feliz Anne Reyes Macahis to create her new piece for ensemble and electronics, diwata, a commission by Fondation Royaumont and IRCAM, endorsed by the ULYSSES network. In this piece, musicians not only performed their instruments, but also used their voices, creating a new communication language based on audio archive of Fabio Dalasay singing epic of Agyu by Agusan Manobo.
Photo © Quentin Chevrier
During one week of section and tutti rehearsal, instrumentalists discovered different universes, learned to each other, learned to perform together and along with musicians of the Ensemble intercontemporain.
Photo © Quentin Chevrier
A week full of beautiful music, nourishing exchanges, good mood.
Photo © Quentin Chevrier
A week of bright smiles.
Photo © Quentin Chevrier
A week of giggles.
Photo © Quentin Chevrier
… a week of DIY on instrumentalist part scores!
Culmination of this intense week, concert on June 19 at CENTQUATRE-PARIS, meet audience and well-deserved success.
Watch it online on You Tube, until December, 19, 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eMb2tBCyNI&t=5282s
Then, ULYSSES ensemble left Paris to the magnificent Royaumont Abbey. New atmosphere for this second stop, same fantastic energy at the service of contemporary music.
Back home, now, young musicians are thrilled to meet again in the end of September in Barcelona, for the third stop with Mixtur Festival, under the baton of Beat Furrer.
ULYSSES Ensemble 2021:
Rebecca Blau, flute, Claire Colombo, oboe, Riccardo Acciarino, clarinet,
Olivia Palmer-Baker, bassoon, Mari Tirkkonen, horn, Thaïs Jude, trumpet, Alejandro Ivorra Elull, trombone, Miharu Ogura, piano, Luis Azcona Delgado, percussion, Audrey Sproule & Ernst Spyckerelle, violins, Hortense Fourrier, viola, Beatriz Raimundo, cello Mathilde Barillot, contrabass.
In Paris, 5 young musicians joined them:
Li Ling Lee, clarinet, Simona Castria, saxophone, Fanny Meteier, tuba, Hortense Airault & Charbel Charbel, cellos
Text: Adèle Bernadac, Natacha Moënne-Loccoz