Commission to César Rafael

For the past decade, the Jovem Orquestra Portuguesa has run a composer-in-residence program, offering emerging composers the opportunity to develop a new orchestral work in close collaboration with the orchestra. Throughout the year, the resident composer works alongside the conductor and artistic team—including a rehearsal director and instrument builder—to refine the new composition.

This year’s resident composer is César Rafael (b. 2001), winner of the Jovem Orquestra Portuguesa’s Young Composer-in-Residence competition. His recent achievements include First Prize at the Prémio Composição SPA/Antena 2. His new work, Saudades, só portugueses, draws on the Portuguese concept of saudade and is inspired by the poetry of the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa.

The world premiere will take place at the Konzerthaus Berlin as part of Young Euro Classic in August. It will be preceded by three workshop performances featuring excerpts from the new work, each introduced by the composer.

The commission to César Rafael is supported by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.

Further information:
ocp.org.pt

Dates

July 30, 2026
Teatro Capitólio, Lisbon

August 1, 2026
Salão Paroquial de Nova Oeiras

August 3, 2026
Sociedade Filarmónica Perpétua Azeitonense, Azeitão

August 7, 2026
Konzerthaus Berlin