Orquestra Filarmónica Portuguesa

The Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra (Orquestra
Filarmónica Portuguesa) is supported by Direção-Geral
das Artes and by funds from the European Union’s
Creative Europe program, having ranked first among
the European orchestras that applied for this project.

The 2022–2024 triennium was a particularly special
period for the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra
(OFP), marked by tremendous successes. At the
invitation of the Institut Français de Culture, the OFP
performed at the théâtre des Champs-Élysées in a
concert included in the Saison Croisée France/Portugal
2022 season, marking its international debut at the
renowned Parisian venue. Also in Paris, and at the invitation
of UNESCO, the OFP delivered a memorable
concert at the headquarters of this prestigious global
organization as part of the celebrations for World
Portuguese Language Day. this concert was recorded
and streamed worldwide.
As the leader of the "Sounds of Change" project—bringing
together partners from Germany, Spain, Slovenia,
and Serbia—the OFP had its application selected by the
European Union’s Creative Europe program, becoming
one of only twenty projects funded among hundreds of
applicants.
At the invitation of German promoters, the OFP
performed at the iconic Berlin Philharmonie, receiving
enthusiastic applause and outstanding reviews.
During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the Portuguese
Philharmonic Orchestra further consolidated its success
and national and international impact, receiving an
invitation to take part in the celebrations of the 500th
anniversary of Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation
voyage. For this occasion, the OFP performed significant
As a chamber musician, Bernardo studied under
guidance of Antonio Chagas Rosa, Eugene Asti and
Martino Tirimo. Bernardo frequently collaborates
with other artists such as Artur Pizarro, Pascal Rogé
and Deniz Arman Gelenbe. He also has a long time
partnership with cellist Burak Özkan, with whom
Santos actively plays as a duo and other ensemble
formations.
Bernardo complements his artistic career with research
on Portuguese composers Berta Alves de Sousa and
Frederico de Freitas, being responsible for the critical
edition and publishing of works by both composers.
the main object of research now incides on the music
for piano by Portuguese composer Ruy Coelho. Bernardo
gave masterclasses in several festivals, universities and
music schools in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia,
Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Vietnam.
Bernardo Santos is currently taking part of the Doctoral
Programme in Music Performance (PhD) at the University
of Aveiro, being a research fellow at INET-md.
Bernardo graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire
of Music and Dance in London, Ljubljana Academy of
Music, Conservatori del Liceu in Barcelona and from
the University of Aveiro (Aveiro City Prize), having
studied with Dubravka Tomsic, Deniz Gelenbe, Josep
Colom, Álvaro Teixeira Lopes and Klara Dolynay.
Bernardo Santos is the president of the World Piano
Teachers Association (WPTA) Portugal, co-founder
and co-director of Festival Internacional de Piano y
Orquesta de Guadalajara (FIPOG) in Mexico and
Artistic Director of the “Ciclos Lua Nova” concert
series, hosted by Fundação Dionísio Pinheiro e Alice
Cardoso Pinheiro, in Águeda, Portugal.
concerts featuring commissioned works by renowned
Portuguese and international composers.
the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra has performed
throughout almost the entire national territory, interpreting
some of the most significant works of the symphonic
repertoire and accompanying distinguished international
soloists. Among its regular concert venues are the
Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB), the Aula Magna of
the University of Lisbon, the Altice Arena (where it is
an associate orchestra), and Campo Pequeno in Lisbon;
the Coliseu do Porto, Casa da Música, the Salão Árabe
of the Palácio da Bolsa, the Serralves Gardens, and the
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, Centro de Congressos de
Santarém, Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval (Sintra), Teatro
das Figuras (Faro), Teatro TEMPO (Portimão), Teatro
Aveirense (Aveiro), Auditório de Olhão, Centro Cultural
do Arade (Lagoa), as well as annual performances at most
of the country’s major music festivals.
PHOTO: DUKTUS SOUND STUDIO
the OFP has consistently supported young national
soloists and conductors, commissioning and
premiering 16 works by Portuguese composers and
five by international composers. Notable support has
been given to young Portuguese composers Ana Seara,
Anne Vitorino d’Almeida, Fátima Fonte, Ana Ataíde
Magalhães, Camila Salomé Menino, and Sara Ross, as
well as collaborations with Alexandre Delgado, Luís
Tinoco, Rafael Diaz, and Nuno Guedes Campos.
Founded in May 2016 by Osvaldo Ferreira and Augusto
Trindade, the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra is
widely recognized by audiences and critics alike as one of
the finest national symphonic orchestras. the high standards
of quality and artistic excellence established from
its inception have resulted in an ensemble composed of
musicians with outstanding technical and artistic ability
from various nationalities—including prize-winning
instrumentalists from national and international
competitions, former members of the European Union
Youth Orchestra, and foreign musicians residing in
Portugal.
The Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra is artistically
directed by conductor Osvaldo Ferreira, one of the
most prominent orchestral conductors in Portugal
today.