The intercultural Atlas Ensemble brings together musicians from China, Japan, India, Iran, Armenia, Azerbaidjan, Syria, Turkey and Europe. The ensemble presents an unheard sound world of instruments from different cultures. The repertoire consists entirely of specially commissioned works. The Atlas Ensemble opens up new possibilities for colour and orchestration. Unlike the modern western heterogeneous ensemble in which one instrument of each family is featured, the Atlas Ensemble brings together instruments from various cultures which, while originating from the same ancestor, have travelled and developed over the course of centuries. Thus, a wide variety of instruments evolved The uniting of these "descendants" and combination of their timbres creates, beautiful and previously unheard sound blends.