Inspired by the grand tours of classical musicians travelling through Europe and the goals of training and enriching the practices of young musicians, the ULYSSES Platform brings together 13 European institutions for the promotion and professionalization of young composers and young performers in the domain of new music.
Each year, a new ensemble of young musicians living in Europe is formed and hosted in several academies and festivals. In 2026, the ULYSSES Ensemble tours in June in Milan (Divertimento Ensemble) and Paris (IRCAM ManiFeste Festival) and in October in Barcelona (Mixtur Festival).
The ULYSSES Ensemble 2026 consists of 8 musicians: 1 flute (also piccolo, alto in G), 1 oboe (also English horn), 1 clarinet (also basset horn, bass clarinet), 1 piano (also celesta), 1 percussion, 1 violin, 1 viola, 1 cello.
With the support of the ULYSSES Platform, co-funded by the European Union.
For the ULYSSES ensemble first stop, as part of the Rondò 2026 musical season (23rd edition), conductor and artistic director Sandro Gorli invites Italian composer Luca Francesconi to celebrate his 70th birthday and attend rehearsals as a tutor. At the final concert, on June 13th at the Fabbrica del Vapore, the ULYSSES ensemble indeed performs an ensemble piece by Francesconi, Insieme II (2016). The musicians of the ULYSSES ensemble are also acquainted with the young French composer Anne Castex, working on her new piece for ensemble and electronics, which is premiered in Milan. The final concert's program concludes with a new piece by Fabio Nieder, written especially for the occasion, and Trittico (2026) by Daniele Bonacina, both premiered. During the week of rehearsals, the young musicians benefit of work sessions with the Divertimento Ensemble musicians.
Additionally, musicians from the ULYSSES ensemble are offered the opportunity to play a short piece for solo instrument by Francesconi, practicing it with him, in a concert on June 10th. This concert is interspersed with conversation and a glass of wine.
Sandro Gorli conductor
Luca Francesconi composer
Musicians from Ensemble Divertimento
Luca Francesconi solo works tbd
Anne Castex Vif-creux, 10 minutes (2026) - World Premiere
Co-commission Gaudeamus Festival, International Ensemble Modern Academy, IRCAM-Centre Pompidou, with the support of the ULYSSES Platform, co-funded by the European Union, for flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello and electronics
Fabio Nieder new work, 10 minutes (2026) - World Premiere
Commission by Divertimento Ensemble, for flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello
Daniele Bonacina Trittico (version 2), 10 minutes (2026) - World Premiere
for flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello
Luca Francesconi Insieme II, 12 minutes (2016)
for flute, clarinet, piano, vibraphone, violin, cello
As part of the academy ManiFeste-2026, French conductor and musical director of the Ensemble intercontemporain, Pierre Bleuse leads a master class for both the ULYSSES Ensemble and the NEXT ensemble (from Conservatoire de Paris), with the complicity of soloists from the Ensemble intercontemporain who tutor the young musicians. They work on two pieces from contemporary repertoire, Stefano Gervasoni’s Fado Errático – featuring fado singer Cristina Branco and Portuguese guitar player Luis Hölzl –, and Unsuk Chin Gougalōn. Scenes from a Street Theater – in reference to a Proustian moment the Korean composer experimented during a trip to China –, which the young instrumentalists perform side by side with NEXT ensemble and the Ensemble intercontemporain. In addition, the 8 musicians from the ULYSSES Ensemble reruns Anne Castex’s new work premiered in Milan on June 13, this time under the baton of Pierre Bleuse. Furthermore, young instrumentalists of both ensembles (ULYSSES and NEXT) benefit of work sessions with musicians from the Ensemble intercontemporain. The week culminates with a public concert as part of the festival ManiFeste-2026 in CENTQUATRE-PARIS.
Pierre Bleuse conductor
Soloists from the Ensemble intercontemporain
Anne Castex Vif-creux, 10 minutes (2026) - French Premiere
Co-commission Gaudeamus Festival, International Ensemble Modern Academy, IRCAM-Centre Pompidou, with the support of the ULYSSES Platform, co-funded by the European Union, for flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello and electronics
Unsuk Chin Gougalōn. Scenes from a Street Theater, 20 minutes (2009/2011)
for flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, 2 pianos, 2 percussions, 2 violins, viola, 2 cellos, double bass and amplification
Stefano Gervasoni Fado Errático, a song concert upon fados by Amália Rodrigues, 65 minutes (2007/2015)
for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, piano, 3 percussions, Portuguese guitar, Spanish guitar, harp, accordion, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass and electronics
For the third and final stop, the ULYSSES Ensemble arrives in Barcelona to collaborate with conductor Nacho de Paz and tutors from a professional music ensemble tbc. Throughout the week, the musicians work intensively on Anne Castex’s new co-commission, performed as Spanish premiere, alongside Luca Francesconi’s Insieme II. They also develop another premiere by Carolina Cerezo, commissioned by Mixtur Festival, two miniatures by participants of the Mixtur Composition Workshop, and one additional piece to be confirmed. Rehearsals take place at Fabra i Coats: Fàbrica de Creació starting on October 15, culminating in a public concert on October 17, 2026 as part of Festival Mixtur.
Nacho de Paz (conductor)
Instrumentalists tbc
Anne Castex Vif-creux, 10 minutes (2026) - Spanish Premiere
Co-commission Gaudeamus Festival, International Ensemble Modern Academy, IRCAM-Centre Pompidou, with the support of the ULYSSES Platform, co-funded by the European Union, for flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello and electronics
Carolina Cerezo new work, 10 minutes (2026) - World Premiere
Commission Mixtur Festival, for flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello
Luca Francesconi Insieme II, 12 minutes (2016)
for flute, clarinet, piano, violin, cello, vibraphone
Two Miniatures by composers from Mixtur Composition Workshops, each 3 minutes (2026) - Worlds Premieres
Alex Vaughan new work, 10 minutes (2026) - World Premiere
Commission Mixtur Festival, for flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello
Jury members will be: soloists from the Ensemble intercontemporain (ManiFeste-2026), conductor Sandro Gorli (Divertimento Ensemble), Oliver Rappoport and Oriol Saladrigues (Mixtur Festival). Jury selection is irrevocable.
INSTRUMENTALISTS SELECTED FOR THE ENSEMBLE:
Instrumentalists selected to participate who do not respect the information provided or who will be absent—even partially—during one stop will be excluded from the ULYSSES ensemble tour by the ULYSSES member team.
