Discover the sounding of Italy this 2021 at Casa da Música

The new season at Casa da Música kicks off on 15th January, with Luca Francesconi taking the role of resident composer. Cellist Marc Coppey, from France, is the resident artist. The programming will feature an opera by Verdi and Puccini, conducted by maestro Martin André and performed by the Porto Symphonic Orchestra.

Following an unprecedented 2020, with Casa da Música devoting its programme to France, 2021 is defined by a programing that will honour Italy. The kick off concert is on 8th January.

Italy had already been the theme country in 2013, and on 15th January, Martin André conducts Porto Symphonic Orchestra, which pieces by Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini, delivered by the Italian soprano Daniela Schillaci and the Greek tenor Angelos Samartzis.

It is worth highlighting that on 17th January, the violinist and maestro Fabio Biondi will deliver a performance on Milanese music, jointly with the Baroque Orchestra; mezzo-soprano Christina Daletska takes to the stage at Casa da Música on 22nd January, with a repertoire on Luigi Dallapiccola, and the full symphonies by Sibelius. Time, also, for the comeback of the symphonic choral works, in the last quarter of the year.

This month, on 22nd, the Serbian pianist Tamara Stefanovitch goes on stage for the piano concert by Luca Francesconi, a national première. In turn, the Moldovan-Austrian-Swiss violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja will also debut at Casa da Música, on 29th May, to deliver a première performance on the new violin concert by the resident composer.

As regards the cycles devoted to “Música e Cinema” (Invicta. Música. Filmes), “Música e Revolução” and “Música à Volta do Barroco”, 2021 presents two new categories, namely “Música e Mito”, in March, and “Música e Vinho”, in September.

May comes and the 30th brings the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Baroque Orchestra with “The St Matthew Passion, BWV 244”, by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is worth mentioning, as well, Mozart’s Requiem, on 13th November, which will repeat on 17th, 18th, 22nd, and 23rd December, with “Christmas Oratorio”, by Bach.

The Piano Cycle headliners are the Russian pianists Arcadi Volodos (on 23rd February) and Grigory Sokolov (on 13th April). This cycle also features the South Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son to Porto, on 18th May, to perform pieces by Schumann and Chopin, and the American pianist Claire Huangci, on 17th October, to deliver pieces by Bach, Mozart, Chopin and Schubert.

The 2021 edition also features the comeback of the Austrian maestro Leopold Hager, on 30th April, following the cancelling of his latest tour, due to the pandemic.

Time for Jazz, as well, with the Matosinhos Jazz Orchestra that will deliver performances on pieces by Ornette Coleman, scheduled for 5th June. On 10th October, Mário Laginha performs with Portuguese Symphonic band, and on 27th November, it’s time for Portuguese singer Rui Reininho to join Matosinhos Jazz Orchestra on stage.

“The challenge is to adjust the programme t the ongoing pandemic and resulting constraints, which may lead to the creation of digital content, as well”, as highlighted by the Artistic Director of Casa da Música António Jorge Pacheco.

For further information, please check the Casa da Música website.