About us

The year 2022 was outstanding for the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), filled with huge triumphs. As part of the Saison Croisée France/Portugal 2022 season and at the invitation of the Institut Français de Culture, the PPO performed at the Théatre des Champs-Élysées in a concert, celebrating this way in the famous Paris hall, its international debut. Also, in this city and at the invitation of UNESCO, the PPO held a memorable concert at the headquarters of this significant world organisation as part of the commemoration program for World Portuguese Language Day (May 5, 2022), which was recorded and broadcast worldwide through streaming.

As the leader of the “Sounds of Change” project, which involves partners from Germany, Spain, Slovenia and Serbia, the PPO saw his candidacy selected by the Creative Europe program, being one of (only) twenty projects that the European Union supported among many hundreds of applicants. For more information about this project, follow the link (https://soundsofchange.eu).

At the invitation of some German promoters, the orchestra’s internationalisation will continue in 2023, with particular emphasis on its presence in the mythical room of the Berlin Philharmonic.

In the 2023/2024 biennium, the DGArtes will support the Orchestra through the Sustained Support Program for the Arts. Previously, OFP’s Creation and Internationalization projects had also been endorsed by DGArtes, in specific competitions in 2021 and 2022.

In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra saw its success and national and international impact materialise, receiving an invitation to join the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Fernão de Magalhães’ Circumnavigation voyage. The PPO performed significant concerts on these occasions, ordering new works from influential national and international authors. The concert held on May 2, 2021, at the CCB, dedicated to Portuguese music and language, integrated into the official agenda of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union (PPUE), was recorded and broadcast by RTP 2 and Antena 2, having deserved the most torn praise from the public and specialised critics.

Also, in 2021 and partnership with Altice Arena and the legendary band Xutos & Pontapés, OFP presented three significant concerts in Lisbon and Porto for an audience that exceeded twenty thousand people.

The Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra has already performed in practically the entire of Portugal, with some of the most important works of the symphonic repertoire and great international soloists. We highlight our regular concerts at the CCB, Aula Magna da Reitoria da Universidade de Lisboa, Altice Arena (we are an associated orchestra of this venue, the biggest in Portugal) and Campo Pequeno, in Lisbon, Coliseu do Porto, Casa da Música, Salão Arabe do Palácio da Bolsa, Serralves Gardens and Romantic Museum, in Porto, Europarque (Santa Maria da Feira), Theatro Circo (Braga ), Convento S. Francisco (Coimbra), Teatro Sá de Miranda (Viana do Castelo), Teatro Municipal de Bragança, Teatro Viriato (Viseu), Teatro Municipal da Guarda, Congress Center of Santarém, Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval (Sintra), Teatro das Figuras (Faro), Teatro TEMPO (Portimão), Teatro Aveirense (Aveiro), Auditorium of Olhão, Centro Cultural do Arade (Lagoa) and annual participation in most of the leading national music festivals.

The PPO  has consistently supported young national soloists and has already commissioned and premiered 15 works by national and international authors, emphasising supporting young national composers Ana Seara, Anne Victorino d´Almeida, Fátima Fonte, Ana Ataíde Magalhães. Four pieces, a ballet and an opera, will premiere over the next two years in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April.

Founded in May 2016 by Osvaldo Ferreira and Augusto Trindade, the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra is widely recognised, by the public and critics, as one of the best national symphonic orchestras. The high standards of quality and demand imposed since its inception led it to integrate a group of musicians with a high technical and artistic level of the most varied nationalities, such as instrumentalists awarded in national and international competitions, former members of the European Union Youth Orchestra and foreign musicians residing in Portugal.

The Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra has the Artistic Direction of maestro Osvaldo Ferreira, one of today’s most representative national conductors.