The ensemble was founded in 1985 and is based in Freiburg. The repertoire is focused on the music of the 20th and 21st century while covering the spectrum from classical modernism and the
Darmstadt School to contemporary music, but occasionally also including works composed before 1700, interpreted from a contemporary perspective. The ensemble has commissioned and premiered works by composers such as
Hèctor Parra,
Brice Pauset,
Gérard Pesson,
Helmut Lachenmann, and
Wolfgang Rihm. The ensemble plays concerts, especially a concert series in Freiburg. In addition, they participate in film, radio and theater projects, provide courses for instrumentalists and composers in Freiburg and at the
Darmstädter Ferienkurse, and hold open rehearsals. Current members of the ensemble are Anja Clift (flute), Eduardo Olloqui (oboe), Shizuyo Oka (clarinet), Klaus Steffes-Holländer (piano),
Christian Dierstein (percussion), Adam Woodward (violin), Sofia von Atzingen (viola) and Åsa Åkerberg (cello). The Artistic Director is Australian composer
Paul Clift. Starting in 1999, the ensemble began commissioning an ongoing series of short
In Nomine compositions for the festival
Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik, titled the
Witten In Nomine Broken Consort Book. Composers including
Brian Ferneyhough,
Georg Friedrich Haas,
Toshio Hosokawa,
György Kurtág,
Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, Gérard Pesson,
Robert H.P. Platz,
Rolf Riehm,
Wolfgang Rihm,
Salvatore Sciarrino,
Hans Zender, and
Walter Zimmermann have submitted works to the collection. On 22 August 2008, the eightieth birthday of
Karlheinz Stockhausen, members of the ensemble played the premiere of
Balance, the
Seventh Hour of his cycle
Klang, for flute,
cor anglais, and bass clarinet, in the great hall of the
WDR. Since 2012, Ensemble Recherche has been housed at Ensemblehaus Freiburg. ==Recordings==