About
Founded in Lausanne in 2022 by Alexandra Vizman, Eugène Carmona, Emile Abeille and Adeline Mélo, Abraxas Ensemble is a collective of soloists devoted to 20th-century and contemporary music. Its name, borrowed from the deity of ambivalence in Hermann Hesse's Demian, says something about its position: neither in tradition nor in rupture, but in the space between the two.
The ensemble adapts its size to each project, from solo to large ensemble, with or without conductor and without fixed hierarchy. Two series shape its activity: the « Grand Ensemble » concerts range from major 20th-century works to contemporary pieces, while the « Abraxas Décomposé » concerts explore chamber and solo formations, an intimate setting where each musician takes the initiative on the repertoire.
Abraxas wishes to champion the creation of new music, working closely with composers along the way. In November 2025, it gave the world premiere of Cyprien Lengagne's Kammerkonzert, the ensemble's first commission. From its earliest days, Abraxas has embraced multidisciplinary collaboration, most notably with graphic artist Alexandra Cupșa, whose live visuals, reacting to the music in real time, frequently accompany its concerts.
