Ensemble Intercontemporain was started in 1976 on the initiative of Pierre Boulez in cooperation with Nicholas Snowman with the support of Michel Guy, at that time acting as the Minister of Culture. The ensemble consists of 31 soloists fascinated with the music of the 20th and 21st centuries, permanently associated with the group, thus being able to meet its statutory duties of concert-giving and providing educational activities. The musicians, directed by Susanna Mälkki, closely cooperate with various composers. They expand their knowledge of instrumental techniques and create projects combining music, dance, theatre, film and audiovisual arts. They give many concerts, including premieres, of compositions that are considered to be 20th century masterpieces. Ensemble Intercontemporain is famous for its educational activities: organising concerts for children, composition workshops for students, trainings for future performers, conductors and composers, etc. The ensemble, with its seat in the Paris’s Cité de la Musique (since 1995), records and gives concerts both in France and abroad; it is also invited to prestigious international festivals. Ensemble Intercontemporain is financed by the Ministry of Culture and Communication; it is also subsidized by Paris city council. This year it is supported by the Hermes Foundation. The ensemble’s activities are documented over several dozen albums published by major record labels, e.g.: Deutsche Grammophon, Sony Classical, Decca, Naďve, Kairos, etc.