Under the leadership of its artistic director and conductor, the pianofortist Florence Albrecht, L’Encyclopédie has forged a very strong identity: that of a European ensemble playing period instruments, which is flexible and adaptable, and for which historical research is never an end in itself, but a means of rediscovering in the music of the 18th and 19th centuries all its freedom, modernity and expressive power. The ensemble cultivates a widely acclaimed beauty of sound without ever sacrificing the structure and meaning of the musical text.

Established in France since 2024, L’Encyclopédie explores the musical works of the Age of Enlightenment and early Romanticism, from 1750 to 1830 (though it does not exclude the music of earlier composers), adopting an approach based on the study of primary sources and the performance on period instruments. Far from viewing musicological rigour as a rigid framework, the ensemble seeks to uncover, beyond the notes, the gestures, timbres, practices and imaginaries that shaped the music of this period.

The ensemble has developed a repertoire that brings together masterpieces by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert with lesser-known, sometimes forgotten works that are particularly revealing of the aesthetic upheavals that characterised this period. Each programme is conceived as an encounter between the works, the instruments, historical sources and the audience, with particular attention paid to the presentation and the concert experience.

Since its inception, L’Encyclopédie has forged numerous prestigious collaborations: with violinist Amandine Beyer, sopranos Sophie Karthäuser and Jodie Devos, and oboist Jean-Marc Philips, to name but a few.
It has quickly made a name for itself on the European scene, with invitations to perform at the Victoria Hall and the Studio Ernest Ansermet in Geneva, the Salle Gaveau, the Parc Floral in Paris and L’Arsenal in Metz. The ensemble is also set to make its London debut in 2027.
This momentum culminated in 2025 with the release of their first recording on Harmonia mundi, Kindermusik, exploring the bonds between father and son – between Leopold and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This recording marked a significant milestone in the ensemble’s international recognition, receiving unanimously positive reviews, including a ‘Choc’ award from Classica magazine.

Now more than ever, L’Encyclopédie continues to develop along the lines that shaped its inception: the rediscovery of little-known repertoires, the creation of original programmes, outreach to new audiences, and dialogue between research and artistic practice. In 2026, the ensemble joined the Caisse des Dépôts’ Young Ensembles programme and began a residency at L’Arsenal – Cité musicale de Metz for the 2026–2027 season, whilst continuing its work in Geneva, notably with the Zoubov Foundation and Museum.