... part is equal to the whole ...

 

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Based in Brussels, ensemble Fractales was born out of a shared desire to promote and explore new musical repertoires. The ensemble — composed of flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano — is dedicated to performing a wide range of contemporary music, crafting engaging programs that reflect the richness and diversity of today’s musical landscape, having premiered over 100 new works at festivals like the Venice Biennale, Mixtur, ArsMusica, and ReMusik. With infectious energy and a deep commitment to the music of the 20th and 21st centuries, Fractales brings each performance to life with curiosity, passion, and precision. 

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Passionate about refreshing the traditional concert format, Fractales experiments with multidisciplinarity to make each of its public appearances a unique experience for the audience. Fractales has released two CDs, Fractales (Cyprès) and Fractionated (Soond), featuring works dedicated to the ensemble.

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Since 2024, Fractales has been developing a partnership with the Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) in Brussels, presenting a concert series each season. The series provides a space for world premieres, thematic programmes, and experimentation with new concert formats, with recent projects such as Playground exploring the connections between play, experimentation, and contemporary music.

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Fractales is committed to supporting the emerging generation of composers and musicians through artistic exchange, experimentation, and long-term collaboration. At the heart of this commitment is the Fractales Composers Residency, which each year brings five composers from around the world to Belgium for an intensive week of working alongside the ensemble, culminating in five world premieres. The residency is central to Fractales’ artistic practice, allowing the musicians to discover future collaborators and engage closely with each composer’s individual musical voice.

 

Through its BE Connect programme, Fractales builds partnerships with conservatories and universities internationally, creating opportunities for young composers and performers to engage directly with the ensemble through masterclasses, workshops, and collaborative projects. The ensemble was regularly invited to the International Summer Academy of the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where it premiered works by emerging composers and coached young performers in contemporary music. In 2027, Fractales will extend this network to Columbia University in New York City, working with its doctoral students.

 

The international musicians of Fractales – originating from Belgium, Brazil, France, and Uzbekistan – are proud advocates of Belgian composers. Their work has been supported by the Forum de la Création Musicale (Belgium). Fractales is currently supported by the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.