Ensemble Fractales & LENsemble Vilnius

Ensemble Fractales (Belgium) and LENsemble Vilnius (Lithuania) are joining forces for a unique cross-cultural collaboration within the framework of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027. The project will bring together two vibrant contemporary music ensembles, performing both at Flagey and at the emerging international workshop / festival for young artists, ContemPLAY Festival in Vilnius, Lithuania. The focus of the program will be to examine the relationship between modernity and tradition, or continuity versus innovation, and will not only bring established works to the stage but also place them in dialogue with the young generation of both countries. The programme highlights the creative voices of both countries, featuring new works by composers from Lithuania and Belgium. From the Lithuanian side, the ensembles will premiere works by established composers Vykintas Baltakas and Justina Repečkaitė, as well as an emerging voice, Andrius Maslekovas. From the Belgian side, the project will include a work by Oren Boneh and new compositions by students at the Flemish and Francophone conservatories in Brussels. Integral to both ensembles’ missions - and to ContemPLAY - is engagement with the next generation of composers. This project therefore brings together artists at different stages in their careers, linking them through a shared creative goal. Vykintas Baltakas will be invited to Belgium to give workshops with composition students at the Brussels conservatories, which will result in two new student works. This initiative continues the close collaboration that Ensemble Fractales maintains with emerging Belgian composers. The project unites two ensembles deeply invested in experimentation with sound and music, and in close collaboration with composers. By creating a space where established and emerging artists from different cultural contexts can work together, it offers a rich tapestry of musical landscapes. It highlights the depth and value of cross-cultural dialogue in contemporary music, where collaboration can spark unexpected discoveries and shared experiences for both performers and audiences.