The new season of Casa da Música kicks-off on January 15th, with Luca Francesconi as a composer in residence and a programme that includes an opera gala by Verdi and Puccini, directed by Martin André and performed by Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto.



At a time when the watchword will be “to adapt”, and after a year of intermittences dedicated to France, the 2021 programme kicks-off with a New Year's concert, now on January 8th, in which Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto will be directed by Martin André.


The official opening of the year dedicated to Italy - revisiting a country that had already been a theme in 2013 - takes place on January 15th, with an Italian opera gala by Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto, with the musical direction also by Martin André, manoeuvring works by composers Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini, performed by Italian soprano Daniela Schillaci and Greek tenor Angelos Samartzis.


With the Italian Luca Francesconi taking the role of composer in residence during the new season, the award-winning French cellist Marc Coppey will have the status of in-house artist.


As for the programme new features, the presentation, on January 17th, of the violinist and conductor Fabio Biondi, who exalts Milanese music with Orquestra Barroca, should be highlighted; mezzo-soprano Christina Daletska, on the 22nd, singing Luigi Dallapiccola; Sibelius’ Complete Symphonies; and the return to the stages of symphonic choir formations, in the last quarter of the year.


The cycles dedicated to “Música e Cinema” (Invicta. Música. Filmes), “Música e Revolução” and “Música à Volta do Barroco” get in 2021 two new categories: “Música e Mito”, in March, and “Música e Vinho” during the month of September.


On May 30th, Casa da Música marks the 15th anniversary of Orquestra Barroca with “Saint Matthew Passion” by Johann Sebastian Bach. Still within the scope of the Música à Volta do Barroco cycle, Mozart's “Requiem” will be presented on November 13th, and on 17, 18, 22 and 23 December the “Christmas Oratorio”, also by Bach.


In Orquestra Sinfónica, the Swiss Stefan Blunier will take on the position of principal conductor and the German pianist Christian Zacharias will be the principal guest conductor, while Italian conductors Donato Renzetti, Tito Ceccherini and Carlo Rizzi will perform for the first time at Casa da Música.


The Piano Cycle brings news in the women’s side, featuring the award-winning pianists, the South Korean Yeol Eum Son (on May 18th, to play Schumann and Chopin), and the North American Claire Huangci, on October 17th, to perform pieces by Bach, Mozart, Chopin and Schubert. In addition, the renowned Russian pianists Arcadi Volodos (on February 23rd) and Grigory Sokolov (on April 13th) will be the headliners.


Jazz will also be part of the programme, with Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos meeting with Ornette Coleman’s music, on June 5th, and on October 10th will be the turn of Mário Laginha with Banda Sinfónica Portuguesa to perform on stage, which will be followed, on November 27th, by Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos with Rui Reininho.


In view of the current pandemic circumstances, the objective will be “to adjust the programming according to the evolution of the situation”, which may lead to the creation of digital content in order to enable “even at a distance, to continue to fulfil our public service mission at a time when this is even more necessary”, says the artistic director of Casa da Música, António Jorge Pacheco, in the opening message of the programme.

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    Last updated 2022-12-06