Based in Aarhus and shaped by a spirit of experimentation, Ensemble Hermes is redefining what a chamber ensemble can be. From bold collaborations that fuse music and theatre to reimagined interpretations of classical works, the seven-member group is carving out a distinctive space within Denmark’s vibrant chamber music scene.

Formed by a group of friends from the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Ensemble Hermes began as an 11-piece string orchestra before finding its ideal format as a seven-member chamber ensemble. “Playing in a smaller chamber music format is much more fun for us,” says double bassist Malte Schmidt-Hemmet. “With fewer people, there’s more dialogue, more space to react and listen to each other – and to play the way we want to.”

Ensemble Hermes – shaping new sounds at Musikhuset in Aarhus

That spirit of freedom runs through everything Ensemble Hermes does. The group experiments with new concert formats that reimagine how classical music can be experienced. One recent project, the critically acclaimed Stilhed blended theatre, music, and lighting, featuring an actor and musicians sharing the stage. “We didn’t want two art forms just placed side by side,” Schmidt-Hemmet explains. “We wanted them to melt together.”

Now officially artist-in-residence at Musikhuset Aarhus, Hermes has found a creative home that matches its ambition. The residency gives access to technical support, performance spaces and the kind of resources needed to realise large, multidisciplinary projects. “It means a lot to have Musikhuset behind us,” says cellist Gabriella de Carvalho e Silva Fuglsig. “Our ideas often need more than just a stage – they need space, sound and collaboration.”

Ensemble Hermes – shaping new sounds at Musikhuset in Aarhus

Web: www.ensemblehermes.dk
Instagram: @ensemblehermes

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