Road to Spring
March at Casa da Música is more than a passage from winter to spring; it is the awakening of a new cycle. On one hand, the final echoes of a profound symphonic winter, with monumental works that probe life’s great existential questions. On the other, the preparation for Easter renewal and the first blossoms of the season. A programme that is, in itself, a journey from the intimate to the cosmic, from ancestral roots to the seeds of the future.
The symphonic journey begins with a work of mourning and introspection: Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony, presented in a concert with commentary that helps unveil the mystery of its sombre atmosphere. Orquestra Sinfónica then moves forward with the vibrant energy of Stravinsky’s The Firebird and the exotic Violin Concerto by Khachaturian, bringing to Casa da Música for the first time the virtuoso Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović. It is also our oldest resident ensemble that takes us to the heart of Eastern Europe with Bartók’s powerful Concerto for Orchestra, Kodály’s delightful Háry János Suite, and the dance-infused Romanian Rhapsody by Enescu.
On the horizon, Tempo de Páscoa reveals itself as a moment of pure spiritual elevation and celebration of light. The festival opens with the mystical dimension of Wagner, through the Parsifal Suite arranged by conductor Andrew Gourlay, who will also present the work in a concert with commentary. The sacred climax arrives on Holy Wednesday, with the performance of Bach’s monumental St John Passion, an event uniting Orquestra Barroca and Coro Casa da Música under the direction of Léo Warynski. Before that, Remix Ensemble, in partnership with Beyra – Laboratório Artístico, conveys Messiaen’s transcendent and colourful vision in Couleurs de la Cité Céleste, alongside new creations by Portuguese composers. The celebration of youth and renewal is entrusted to the prodigious violinist Elli Choi, who interprets her favourite composer, Brahms, before Sinfónica presents us with Shostakovich’s First Symphony.
The world of chamber and vocal music also announces moments of rare beauty and intimacy. The Café com Nata series invites us to discover the versatility of Sinfónica’s wind players in a relaxed setting. Coro Casa da Música, under the direction of Nils Schweckendiek, traces an exciting lineage of the German choral tradition, from Heinrich Isaac in the 15th century to Brahms, Schumann, and Mahler. And the stage of Sala Suggia is hallowed by the presence of a living legend: pianist Grigory Sokolov returns with his annual recital, this time dedicated to Beethoven and Schubert.
Across the vast territory of popular music and jazz, March has much to offer. Portuguese music is celebrated in its diversity – from the intimate story told through the accordion of Gabriel Gomes, to the earthy roots of the viola campaniça in a duo with Carlos Raposo, and the contemporary, globally-infused fusion of Expresso Transatlântico. From Brazil comes the poetic force of Chico César, revisiting his seminal album Aos Vivos, and a firm promise from Brazilian popular music: Leo Middea. Jazz displays its vitality with the new quintet of bassist Avishai Cohen and, in a Geração Casa concert, showcases the creativity of the ensemble that won the latest edition of Future Jazz. In turn, the guitar of legendary Lee Ritenour promises an evening of pure virtuosity and stories shared with friends.
The Casa’s educational and community vocation shines with proposals for all ages. For the youngest, Sunday mornings are filled with the sensory celebration of Som de Lá e de Cá (Sounds from Here and There) and the dreamlike journey of Cenas Infantis (Scenes from Childhood). There is also the opportunity to discover the collective tradition of the Indonesian Gamelan or to explore Magia do Som (The Magic of Sound) with robotic and constructed instruments. Notably, the first Flautist Marathon fills Casa da Música with the sound of young talents, and the Vocal_Idade project brings the transformative energy of a senior choir to the stage.
And because music is also a territory for thought and dialogue with the world, the month reserves unique moments of reflection: the Open Course in the History of Music’s module on “Forgotten Jewels of Portuguese Classical Music”, the Digitópia’s Techno-Animism concert, which questions the sacred in the digital age, and even a scientific and satirical talk-show on stem cells.
From introspection to festivity, from heritage to the avant-garde, celebrate with us the transformative power of music and discover in this Partitura your road to spring.