Ensemble Atmosphères is a chamber orchestra bringing together a new generation of musicians, founded by the Venezuelan-American conductor Ilyich Rivas and double bassist Will Cravy. Aged 25 to 35, the players come from diverse backgrounds—members of major French or international orchestras, chamber musicians or soloists with promising or already well-established careers, teachers, or young virtuosos nearing the end of their studies. They all share a desire to explore the extraordinary variety of 20th-century and contemporary repertoires and reveal their full power and uniqueness to the public. Each program is woven around a thematic thread with the aim of defining the “new classics” from the post-war era to the present day, always paired with major works from the early 20th century to make each concert a challenging yet always accessible musical experience. The ensemble, based in Pantin in the Greater Paris area since its founding in 2025, makes it a priority to share the joy of listening to and making music with younger the generations. Atmosphères is in residence at the Salle Cortot as part of its partnership with the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, and is the associate orchestra of the Conservatoire de Pantin.

For each project, Atmosphères invites a major international soloist who shares in this commitment; whether leading figures like Carolin Widmann, or some of today’s most promising rising stars. 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, beyond the traditional trio of overture, concerto and symphony, allows every musician to be more involved and valued. 

Atmosphères advocates an open-minded approach to the music of our time, making its programming a true manifest. By performing some of the most fascinating contemporary works, set side by side with pieces by celebrated composers from the early 20th century, the aim is to make each concert a unique collective experience, where the passion and virtuosity of the musicians transform these lesser-known repertoires into exhilarating performances for music lovers and the general public alike. Convinced that a few words can transform the listening experience, each piece performed by the Ensemble is introduced in a brief, lively, and sensitive manner by Ilyich Rivas. By offering contextual references, keys to understanding a work’s sonic universe, or entry points relatable to all, the aim is not to explain, but to incite the imagination and allow everyone to ground their listening, resulting in truly shared experiences.