Montréal (Québec), 1989
Performer (ensemble)
Lorraine Vaillancourt, artistic direction, conductor

Founded in 1989 by pianist and conductor Lorraine Vaillancourt, the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (NEM) is a chamber orchestra of 15 musicians. It delivers a convincing interpretation of today’s musics by granting them the time and attention they deserve. Reflecting a variety of aesthetics, its repertoire is open to the music from all continents and leaves a large amount of room to premieres. Its concerts, public rehearsals and meetings with the composers are all privileged moments of exchange and reflection. Ensemble in residence at the Faculté de musique de l’Université de Montréal, the NEM has performed concerts in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Japan, Australia and Singapore, as well as in seven European countries (Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands). Up to now more than 125 works were composed for the ensemble, among which Jonathan Harvey’s Sringara Chaconne, Tristan Murail En moyenne et extrême raison and Denys Bouliane’s Rythmes et échos des rivages anticostiens mark its 20th anniversary in 2009.

The NEM’s discography comprises 24 CDs released on the labels ProNEM, ATMA and UMMUS (Montréal), Doberman-Yppan (Quebec City), New World Records, Composers Recording Inc (New York), Auvidis Montaigne (Paris), and ABC Classics (Australia). These albums have been produced in collaboration with the Faculté de musique de l’Université de Montréal, Ircam, Les Percussions de Strasbourg, the Musica 93 Festival, the Société Radio-Canada, Radio France and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

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