A new year is already on the horizon, and with it come wishes cast to the four winds for another cycle. At Casa da Música, each of these ritual transitions also marks the start of a new concert season, filled with original offerings linked by a thread that will guide us through the next orbit around the Sun.

In the year now coming to an end, Portugal has inspired the programming at Casa, which has been deeply influenced by major works by national composers, alongside performances by Portuguese soloists and conductors. The year 2025 is shaping up around the theme Caminhos Cruzados (Crossed Paths), highlighting unexpected encounters between styles and geographies, illustrating how classical and popular music influence each other. The Composers in Residence embody this concept. Liza Lim (1966), an Australian of Chinese descent, blends Aboriginal sounds, Chinese traditions, and Western canons, while João Carlos Pinto (1998), a composer and multimedia performer, represents the new generation of multidisciplinary artists with a strong connection to tradition.

The 2025 programming invites the public to explore new horizons through surprising musical crossovers. Among the highlights are festivals that promote dialogues between musical genres, cultures, and traditions, breaking both physical and mental boundaries, such as Mulheres na Música (Women in Music) in March, the 20th Anniversary of Casa da Música in April, and Repercussões (Repercussions) in September. In parallel, historical narratives will continue to enrich the season: Invicta.Música.Filmes (February), Rito da Primavera (The Rite of Spring) in May, Verão da Casa (Summer at Casa) in June, July, and September, Outono em Jazz (Autumn in Jazz) in October, À Volta do Barroco (Around the Baroque) in November, and Música para o Natal (Music for Christmas) in December.

2025 will also be a year marked by celebrations. First, the commemoration of Casa da Música’s 20th anniversary. This milestone deserves nothing less than a whole month of festivities, with concerts from various musical genres, educational activities, and a series of conferences, all taking place in April. Several months later, in October, Remix Ensemble will also celebrate its 25th anniversary. This date will be marked with a national premiere: a new ensemble version of the iconic song cycle A Bela Moleira. The same month will also mark 25 years since Orquestra Nacional do Porto transitioned to its symphonic dimension. This anniversary will be celebrated with three concerts reflecting the core elements of its artistic identity, represented by its largest and oldest resident ensemble.

For this vibrant season, we have designed a more comprehensive and varied signature programme, with 13 exclusive concert series carefully curated to provide unforgettable experiences throughout the year. Among the new series, we highlight: Triple Concerts, featuring five programmes by Orquestra Sinfónica, Orquestra Barroca, and Remix Ensemble, showcasing not two, but three soloists, through some of the most notable examples of this unique concert format. Romanticism in Music, a journey through the most iconic forms and ideas of Romantic music, with a recital by pianist Yoav Levanon and concerts by three of our ensembles – Coro, Remix Ensemble, and Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música. Great Concerts by Tchaikovsky, including four programmes dedicated to masterpieces by the Russian composer, featuring renowned guest soloists: Júlia Pusker (violin), Yeol Eum Son (piano), Claire Huangci (piano), and Pavel Gomziakov (cello). In this very special season, we want you to continue being part of the story we build here every day.

It has been 20 years since this House, which has become both an architectural and musical landmark of our city. But a house only vibrates with people inside. It must be touched by many hands – those who work here in various fields, as well as those who visit us daily – alone, with friends, children, and even grandchildren. We look forward to seeing you in 2025. Until then, enjoy December and Happy Holidays!