The program for the seventh edition is “quite extensive,” including “more than 30 concerts and convergent events,” stated today the UC’s Vice-Rector for Culture, Communication, and Open Science, Delfim Leão.
During the presentation of the Orphika music cycle this morning at the College of Arts, Delfim Leão indicated that over the course of a month, concerts will take place in 15 different venues across Coimbra, reflecting the core principle that “the city is a stage.”
This year’s music cycle features 20 partners, each contributing individual and collaborative activities.
There is “a strong presence of classical music,” with 12 concerts, alongside traditional and popular music (six proposals), world music (three), contemporary and experimental (five), choral and sacred music, as well as events for children and families.
Orphika begins on Saturday with the children’s musical “Voz do Amor” at the Teatro da Cerca de S. Bernardo.
On the same day, the Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente (TAGV) will host the fado concert “100 anos de Carlos Paredes,” honoring the Portuguese artist through a blend of theater, music, and documentary projection.
A highlight is the photo-concert on November 13 at the University of Coimbra’s Botanical Garden, where dozens of large-scale photo projections will be accompanied by diverse live music interpretations.
On November 15, Atelier a Fábrica will host a rock and alternative music concert marking the 30th anniversary of The Grauº project.
On the 29th of the same month, TAGV will present “Poesia Lusófona,” celebrating Portuguese-language poets like Duo Ouro Negro, Pixinguinha, Alexandre O’Neill, Florbela Espanca, Manuel Alegre, and Fernando Pessoa, while also marking the 50th anniversary of independence for several Portuguese-speaking countries.
For the first time, the lecture-concert (En)cantos Cósmicos, alternating scientific explanations with music, will feature Coimbra’s song alongside classical music. This event is scheduled for November 22 at the UC’s Planetarium of the Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory, as explained by João Fernandes, coordinator of the UC’s Earth and Space Research Center.
Another highlight is the closing concert on December 8, where experimental music shapes the performance “O Coro das Vontades,” featuring nearly 40 participants who “give voice to the wishes of a community,” said Catarina Pires, director of the Association Há Baixa.
This concert, she added, involved a long creation process, also engaging a group of deaf children, bringing their stories through dances and Portuguese Sign Language, which opens the show.
Delfim Leão stated that most concerts in the Orphika music cycle program, organized by the University of Coimbra, offer free admission.
In the presentation session, Delfim Leão highlighted that events promoted by the UC Rectory have witnessed an approximate 300% increase in audience numbers in recent years.
The University of Coimbra now attracts approximately 180,000 spectators in its various initiatives, up from about 60,000 in 2024.
According to the official, this tripling in audience size is a result of the institution’s strategy to conduct activities in collaboration with other entities.
