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Ensemble Atmosphères is a chamber orchestra created in 2025 in Pantin – Greater Paris, led by Venezuelan-American conductor Ilyich Rivas and American double bassist Will Cravy. The ensemble, composed of versatile young musicians from around the world, is dedicated to showcasing the extraordinary variety of 20th-century and contemporary repertoires, defining tomorrow’s classics from the postwar to our present day. Each program is carefully woven across a thematic thread, making each concert a fresh yet accessible musical experience.
Atmosphères is fully dedicated to making music accessible to all audiences through engaging introductions by the Music Director before each work’s performance, offering listeners meaningful points of entry and a deeper appreciation. In this spirit, the Ensemble also acts as an open laboratory for innovative, interactive music education for schoolkids, teenagers and young musicians through activities, workshops and tailored professional development in close collaboration with Atmosphères’ institutional and artistic partners.
Defining the new classics of the 20th century : Thanks to it’s partnership with the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, Atmosphère delivers dynamic performances featuring 20 to 40 musicians in the exceptional Salle Cortot. For each concert, Atmosphères invites a major international soloist, including leading figures like Carolin Widmann and Polina Osetinksaya, as well as some of today’s most promising rising stars like Bella Adamova and Ben Goldscheider, to name a few. The ensemble’s programmes are conceived in close collaboration with each soloist, who generally performs several pieces and also a chamber work with individual members of Atmosphères. This flexibility and willingness to think outside the box when it comes to classical programming allows every musician’s unique expertise and talent to be showcased.
Far from the hermeticism often associated with post-war and contemporary music, Atmosphères advocates an open-minded approach to the music of our time. By programming some of the most compelling contemporary works alongside early 20th century masterpieces, performed with the same passion and virtuosity dedicated to the traditional repertoire, each concert a unique collective experience crafted to transform these lesser-known repertoires into exhilarating performances for seasoned music lovers and new listeners alike.
Education: Ensemble Atmosphères strongly believes in the ability of music and instrumental vocation to contribute substantially towards individual and community development. To realize this vision, the musicians of Atmosphères and its guest soloists offer three types of educational opportunities to the younger generations of Pantin in Greater Paris, whether or not they play an instrument. These include educational activies providing vivid introductions to music for children of the city of Pantin, giving them a behind-the-scenes look into the world of classical music; tailored workshops with the students of the Pantin conservatoire; and professional training for young musicians. Each and every exchange is a special opportunity for transmission of a passion for music to young people and nuturing future musicians. Donations enable our educational programs to reach approximately 1,000 young people and children each season.
Championing and promoting today’s musical creation: by commissioning pieces from young, enticing international composers, with whom we collaborate closely. This allows us to actively play a role in the creative forefront of musical innovation. In January 2026, Atmosphères premiered Aabhaa, The Waters (2023), a piece by promising young composer and École Normale de Musique graduate Nastaran Yazdani, and has now commissioned a new work from her to be unveiled in a concert celebrating Salle Cortot during the 2026-2027 season.
U.S. donors can make tax-deductible donations in support of Ensemble Atmosphères to contribute to projects that bring the extraordinary musical experiences to life:
– Musical excellence: broaden the audience of 20th and 21st century instrumental and chamber music by supporting Atmosphères’ programming and concerts
– Education : support Atmosphères’ educational activities, to bring 3 clearly distinct audiences behind the scenes of every project : introduction to orchestra for school kids, through a narrative and appealing approach from the musicians ; tailored interactive workshops about contemporary music for conservatory students, amateurs or those aiming at a professional career ; professional training for young musicians through a partnership with the Ecole Normale de Musique Alfred Cortot
– World premieres: support contemporary creation by commissioning new pieces of up-and-coming composers, the future of music.
By contributing to these projects, U.S. donors support not only a bold, new artistic vision for a defining musical era grounded in French-American artistic exchange, but also empower the future of music, nurturing the next generation of international musical talent and the audiences that will carry this repertoire forward for decades to come.
Photo © Studio Cui Cui – Sébastien Randé
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