[6] The EIC performs about thirty times a year in their home city,[7] and tour extensively both in France and abroad, especially at international festivals.

[3][7] The Ensemble intercontemporain was founded in 1976 by composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, with the support of French Minister of Culture Michel Guy and the collaboration of Nicholas Snowman,[3][8] in order to provide performers for contemporary chamber music.

[1][4] The idea for the Ensemble came from Boulez's experiences as part of the historical avant garde of Darmstadt, Germany, in the 1950s, contemporary of Stockhausen, Berio, Ligeti and Nono.

[13] The Ensemble has toured extensively to South America, Russia, Canada, the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and most major cities of Europe.

[7] Recent performances include the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the Palacio de Bellas Artes (2007),[6] Buenos Aires in 2012,[14] the Festival Internacional Cervantino in 2014,[5][15] and in honor of Pierre Boulez's 90th birthday, a concert at the Barbican Centre in London.