LISBON METROPOLITAN ORCHESTRA

The Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa (OML) was founded in 1992 under the management of AMEC a nonprofitable association, and made its first public appearance on 10th June of that year with the pianist Maria João Pires as soloist. Since then, OML has been developing an intensive activity throughout the year, including symphonic repertoire, chamber music and solo recitals. This innovative project combines music performance with teaching in the Academia Nacional Superior de Orquestra (Academy) and the Conservatório Metropolitano de Música de Lisboa (Conservatory), both managed by AMEC. A policy of decentralization of activities and participation in several cultural projects has been developed. Programmes specially conceived to attract new audiences are performed by both OML and the Orquestra Académica Metropolitana, the orchestra from the Academy. In 1993, under Miguel Graça Moura, the OML made its first international tour on the invitation of the European Commission and Parliament, with performances in Brussels and Strasbourg. In 1997, the OML toured Italy, India, South Korea, Macau and Thailand, followed by a very successful tour of Japan in 1999. In September 2001 OML performed again in Thailand as a guest of the Third International Music and Dance Festival of Bangkok. At present OML has as its Artistic Director the Portuguese conductor Álvaro Cassuto and has been performing under the direction of guest conductors, including Jean-Sébastien Béreau, Jun Wang, Lucas Pfaff, Nicholas Kraemer, Olivier Kuendet, Brian Schembri, Marc Tardue, David Gimenez, Victor Yampolsky, José Collado and Michael Zilm. Other Portuguese conductors who have worked with OML include Manuel Ivo Cruz, Joana Carneiro, Cesário Costa and Vasco Pearce de Azevedo. The orchestra has also collaborated with a distinguished list of soloists. The Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa has recorded nine compact discs for different labels, including EMI Classics and RCA Classics. In 1996 OML was awarded a platinum record, for selling more than 24,000 copies of its second record.

Please visit http://www.oml.pt/ for more information.

Albums featuring this artist are available for download from ClassicsOnline.com