Double Cheers

October is a month of celebration at Casa da Música. Two of its in-house ensembles – Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música and Remix Ensemble – mark important milestones: 25 years of symphonic activity and 25 years of exploring contemporary music, respectively. Two parallel journeys that embody the artistic diversity of Casa da Música and its affirmation as both a national and international reference.

Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música: Tradition in Expansion
With roots dating back to 1947, Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto underwent several transformations until, in 2000, it achieved its full symphonic formation, later becoming part of Fundação Casa da Música in 2006. Since then, it has established itself as a versatile artistic body, equally at ease revisiting the great symphonic repertoire while also giving voice to the music of our time. Its philosophy rests on this dual commitment: on one hand, performing the great symphonic cycles of Mahler, Brahms, or Bruckner; on the other, premiering new works commissioned from numerous composers. This balance has earned the Orchestra prestige at home and abroad, with performances in renowned venues such as the Cologne Philharmonie, Vienna’s Musikverein, and Valencia’s Palau de la Música. Collaborations with distinguished conductors have further shaped its identity, marked by flexibility, openness to a range of styles, and a sound that is constantly evolving. Its discography, praised in magazines such as Gramophone, reflects this same diversity, combining Portuguese works (contemporary and otherwise) with the international repertoire.

Remix Ensemble: A Sound Laboratory
Created in 2000, Remix Ensemble represents one of the most experimental facets of Casa da Música. Conceived to respond to contemporary musical languages, it quickly became one of the foremost ambassadors of today’s music. Over the past 25 years, it has presented more than one hundred world premieres, commissioning works from leading composers such as Wolfgang Rihm, Jörg Widmann, Francesco Filidei, Enno Poppe, and Rebecca Saunders. In doing so, the group has built a reputation as a true sound laboratory, where tradition is constantly reinvented. Its presence at festivals such as Donaueschinger Musiktage and Wien Modern, and in landmark venues like Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, attests to the international reach of this unique project in Portugal. With an extensive discography and collaborations with outstanding performers, Remix continues to challenge audiences and open new pathways for 21st-century music, strengthening ties with the new generations of Portuguese composers.

With distinct artistic paths, Orquestra Sinfónica and Remix Ensemble share the same vocation: bringing music closer to the public. This October, their anniversaries also celebrate that special bond which, concert after concert, makes Casa da Música a space of encounters — where every celebration finds its true meaning with the audience. We look forward to welcoming you.