ULYSSES

Inspired by the classical musicians who travelled throughout Europe to train and expand their practice, the ULYSSES network brings together eleven European institutions to promote and develop the professionalism of young composers.

Through the ULYSSES Ensemble, the ULYSSES network took a major step forward in 2017, directing its efforts towards young performers - while remaining focused on the music of today. A new ensemble of young musicians living in Europe is formed each year and travels through several academies and festivals affiliated with the ULYSSES network. In 2023, the ULYSSES Ensemble travels from June to July from Divertimento to the ManiFeste-2023 academy and the Royaumont Foundation.

This year, the ULYSSES Ensemble will be is made up of 8 musicians: Teresa Costa, flute (Portugal), Riccardo Acciarino, clarinet (Italy), Yannael Ortega, trumpet (France), Juliette Dournaud, piano (France), Nikki Huang, percussion (Taiwan), Solanch Sosa, violin (Cuba), Nora Vetter, viola (Switzerland), David Moran, cello (Australia).

Concert ULYSSES, ManiFeste-2021 © Ircam-Centre Pompidou, photo : Quentin Chevrier

Programs of the 3 Stops

STOP 1 – DIVERTIMENTO

For its first stop, Italian conductor Sandro Gorli invites Italian composer Daniele Ghisi and Spanish composer Mikel Urquiza to attend rehearsals with the ULYSSES ensemble to work closely on their pieces, Black Rain and Les Lueurs se sont multipliées.

In addition, young musicians work on Alex Mincek, poco a poco, and Liza Lim, Veil, they will rerun in Fondation Royaumont during their last stop. Thus, they will experience to rehearse and perform these pieces twice with 2 different conductors. After June 21 concert, as part of Rondò Concert Season (Divertimento) and of Vapore d’Estate Summer concert Season (Fabbrica del Vapore), a dedicated recording session of Urquiza’s piece is scheduled

STOP 2 – MANIFESTE-2023

Taiwanese, Germany-based, conductor Lin Liao leads a master class for the ULYSSES Ensemble with the complicity of soloists from the Ensemble intercontemporain who advise the young musicians and perform three works with them, including two with electectronics elaborate in collaboration with IRCAM computer music designers, Géranomachie by Turkish composer Sofia Avramidou and Assemblage by Chilian composer Roque Rivas. ULYSSES ensemble musicians also rerun Mikel Urquiza’s piece for small ensemble, they will have premiered during the first stop.

First day is dedicated to one-on-one work sessions with musicians from the Ensemble intercontemporain. The week culminates with a public concert on Saturday July 1, as part of the festival ManiFeste-2023.

STOP 3 – FONDATION ROYAUMONT

The last stop in the journey takes place at the Royaumont Foundation, in Parisian district, where the ULYSSES ensemble 2023 works on a range of works from the contemporary repertoire. Here, young musicians rerun poco a poco by Alex Mincek, and Veil by Liza Lim. Besides, they work on Hugues Dufourt L'Afrique d'après Tiepolo, part of his cycle Les continents d'après Tiepolo. French conductor Jean-Philippe Wurtz conducts the ensemble through a week of rehearsals culminating in a public presentation on Sunday, July 9, as part of "Les Dimanches à Royaumont ». In addition, Jean-Philippe Wurtz organizes workshops and discussions dedicated to young performer professionalization.

With the support of the ULYSSES Network, supported by the European Union’s Europe Creative program.