EMBRACING ADVENTURE

Adventure is about seeking out the extraordinary in the midst of reality, with heightened awareness, the unknown gradually becoming familiar.

For Ensemble Contrechamps this season, adventure is about traveling the world at the invitation of renowned festivals – from Paris to Oslo, Zurich to Melbourne, Sydney, Montreal, and New York – bringing back musical and culinary discoveries to share with our audience. In Geneva, a series of glorious and unexpected moments await: new works by Katharina Rosenberger, Frank Martin (a piece never before performed), Sarah Nemtsov, Mariam Rezai, and many others. It is a journey into music that is yet to take shape and awaiting discovery. With imagination poised, reaching toward what lies ahead, we know the moment of revelation may well surpass even our boldest anticipation.

Before setting off, we must equip ourselves. With the delicate, complex timbres of our core musicians, to which we owe the depth and vitality of our performances. We’ll harness cutting-edge technologies for some expeditions: facial recognition with Daniel Zea, virtual reality for the GIFF, and vocal synthesis, developed by Zeynep Toraman in collaboration with the IRCAM teams in Paris.

Adventure is also about rediscovery, bringing things back to life, like leafing through an old album or a score by Grisey. Reviving memories with perhaps a touch of nostalgia, gaining fresh insight into moments of the past. Adventure is about shared paths and emotions: the collective thrill experienced through participatory projects like Chœur en fusion or Contrechamps Close-Up.

Finally, adventure is about opening up new perspectives on the world, connecting and sharing our discoveries. This is reflected in the writings of Agnès Gayraud, who offers a fresh outlook on our practice.

This season, you’ll find expeditions open to all – an invitation for music lovers of every persuasion.

We wish you much pleasure in reading, listening, and above all, wonderful adventures in our company.

Serge Vuille, Artistic Director