Next Future logo

OCP: Espírito Radical!

Orquestra de Câmara Portuguesa

Direction and Drumming: Pedro Carneiro

Conception: António Pinto Ribeiro and Pedro Carneiro

>6 (50')

4 Sep 2015 - 21:30 | 5 Sep 2015 - 19:00

Stage of the Grande Auditório

Admission 16 €

Okho, by Iannis Xenakis

Workers Union (symphonic movement for any loud sounding group of instruments), by Louis Andriessen

 

For me, music has been an extraordinary journey and an example of democracy and ethics: the moment it is performed, all of the musicians on the stage are equal. Each individual's worth is appreciated for their moral qualities: the commitment, preparation, presence of spirit, integrity, ethics and intelligence with which they express themselves. The open-minded artists that make up an orchestra come together in search of individual and collective perfection, enriching humanity in the process. This was one of the mottoes with which we created Orquestra de Câmara Portuguesa (OCP) in 2007. I've always liked artists who are subversive and provocative: for these special performances (will it be a "concert"...?), we will listen (closely, very closely) to works by Xenakis and Andriessen. Composed in France in 1989 by the Romania-born Greek immigrant, Okho was written for three djembes (large West African drums) and was commissioned by the government to mark the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution: perhaps a provocation against the French colonialist spirit? Workers Union was written in 1975. The work is a combination of individual freedom and harsh discipline; its rhythm is immensely detailed. Its notes, however, are only roughly indicated, resulting in a tenuous line, a carefully made choice by each member of the orchestra. Andriessen notes: "It's challenging to play as a group with these instructions: the same applies in a political organisation". In this way, the audience will also participate by reading selected texts by Amilcar Cabral and Frantz Fanon. (Pedro Carneiro)

Pedro Carneiro

Pedro Carneiro © Patrícia Andrade

Orquestra de Câmara Portuguesa (OCP)

The OCP is under the artistic direction of Pedro Carneiro, who leads its newest and virtuosic generation of musicians. Beginning as an associated orchestra at the CCB, the OCP became its resident orchestra in 2008. It has headlined the 2007/2008 and 2010/2011 season opening concerts, and performs each year at the Dias da Música festival in Belém, providing a platform for new soloists and maestros. The OCP has collaborated with the composers Emmanuel Nunes and Sofia Gubaidulina and has played with international soloists such as Jorge Moyano, Cristina Ortiz, Sergio Tiempo, Gary Hoffman, Filipe- Pinto Ribeiro, Carlos Alves, Heinrich Schiff, Artur Pizarro and António Rosado, among others. In 2010, the orchestra went international, performing at the City Festival of London and earning a four-star review from The Times. The OCP's ambition is to become one of the world's leading orchestras, recognised for its credibility and sociocultural importance, a genuine example of proactive citizenship in its promotion of various innovative social initiatives: OCPsolidária, OCPdois and the Portuguese Youth Orchestra – the first to represent Portugal in the European Federation of National Youth Orchestras. The OCP's supporters include various partners, such as the Linklaters, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, PwC and the cities of Lisbon and Oeiras.

 

Pedro Carneiro

Considered by international critics as one of the most important percussionists and original musicians of today, Pedro Carneiro also conducts, composes and teaches. In 2013, he was a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel and a visiting teacher at the Zeltzman Festival. He also directed the Round Top Festival in Texas, USA and collaborated with the film-maker João Viana. He is regularly invited to perform as a soloist with some of the world's most prestigious orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of such maestros as Dudamel, Oliver Knussen, John Neschling and Christian Lindberg. He is the co-founder, artistic director and maestro of Orquestra de Câmara Portuguesa (OCP), which he conducted at the City of London Festival. He has been a Gulbenkian Foundation scholar in percussion and conducting at the Guildhall School (London). He studied conducting with Emilio Pomàrico, at Accademia Internazionale della Musica in Milan.