Ensemble Atmosphères is a chamber orchestra created in 2025 in Pantin – Greater Paris, by Venezuelan-American conductor Ilyich Rivas and American double bassist Will Cravy, bringing together young, virtuoso, and versatile musicians who share a desire to explore and master the extraordinary variety of 20th-century and contemporary repertoires, while revealing their full power and uniqueness to the public. Each program is carefully woven across a thematic thread, with the aim of defining tomorrow’s classics by embracing the fascinating repertoire from the postwar to our present day, always set in dialogue with major works from the early 20th century to make each concert a fresh yet accessible musical experience.
In 2026/2027, Atmosphères launches its second season through a new series of concerts, partnering once again with the Salle Cortot and inviting international soloists to share the stage with its musicians, while showcasing the individual strengths of the ensemble’s members. Atmosphères is the associate orchestra of the Jacques Higelin Conservatoire in Pantin and a guest ensemble of the Joséphine Baker Conservatoire in Pré-Saint-Gervais.
Upcoming concerts
Eclats : Boulez, Enescu, Rivas with Stathis Karapanos, flute
09.10.2026 | Salle Cortot, Paris
George Enescu, Chamber symphony opus 33, 1954
Pierre Boulez, Mémorial, 1985
Diógenes Rivas, Concerto for alto flute, 2024 – world premiere with Stathis Karapanos
Gabriela Lena Frank, Sueños de Chambi, 2007 – Stathis Karapanos and Gaspard Thomas, piano
Arnold Schoenberg, Chamber Symphony n°1 opus 9, 1906
Concertare : Gubaidulina, Copland, Chostakovitch with Polina Osetinskaya, piano
28.11.2026 | Salle Cortot, Paris
Sofia Gubaidulina, Introitus, 1978 – Polina Osetinskaya
Aaron Copland, Clarinet Concerto, 1948 – Joë Christophe, clarinet
Aram Khatchatourian, Clarinet, violin and piano Trio pour clarinette, violon et piano, 1932 – Joë Christophe, Anna Lee, Ariela Bohrod
Dmitri Chostakovitch, Concerto in C minor for Piano and Trumpet, opus 35, 1933 – Polina Osetinskaya and Brayahan Cesin, trumpet
Hommage to Salle Cortot : Boulez and Yazdani
26.03.2026 | Salle Cortot, Paris
Commission to Nastaran Yazdani, École Normale de Musique de Paris alumni
Pieces by Betsy Jolas and Olga Neuwirth
Boulez, Répons, 1981-1984
