The temple of music in Porto
Porto is a city of contrasts. From neoclassical works such as the Palacio de la Bolsa, to the most traditional neighbourhoods with their clothes hanging out onto the street. But Porto is also modern, and one of those examples is found in Casa da Música. This building has been compared with the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and with other concert halls, such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles or the Berlin Philharmonic.
Casa da Música, built next to the Boavista roundabout, quickly became an icon of the city. It took six years longer than expected to open, but it was worth it. Its modern lines composed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and its rooms, prepared to have the best acoustics, make this place a paradise for music and architecture lovers.
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The initiative to create this auditorium appeared when Porto and Rotterdam were named European Capitals of Culture in 1998, for the year 2001. However, the opening of this building did not come until 2005, with Lou Reed and Clã being the first ones to give a concert in Casa da Música. Despite this, the official inauguration occurred just the day after this performance, when, among other personalities, the President of the Republic at the time, Jorge Sampaio, went to see the building.
Today, in addition to being able to enjoy the concert of some of the three permanent orchestras of Casa da Música (Orquestra Nacional do Porto, Orquestra Barroca and Remix Ensemble), you can also visit the building on a guided tour with one of their guides.
Because Porto is a city of contrasts, a city where you will never be bored, a city that has a lot to tell.
Look for our green umbrella and find out all the stories hidden by the wonderful Porto!
