Contraponto: Stravinsky, Tinoco and Varèse

In the first session of the Contraponto cycle in 2026, Theatro Circo presents Orquestra do Norte in a challenging programme, the result of a special commission for this orchestra. Under the artistic direction of Conductor Fernando Marinho, Orquestra do Norte offers a repertoire that links the avant-garde of the 20th century with the contemporary music scene. The show begins with the energy and lyricism of Octandre by Edgard Varèse, followed by Before Spring (N.1969) by Portuguese composer Luís Tinoco. The highlight of the evening is the performance of Igor Stravinsky’s powerful The Rite of Spring (orchestrated by J. McPhee). This seminal work, divided into The Worship of the Earth and The Sacrifice, is a landmark for its rhythmic intensity and drama, revolutionising 20th-century music.

Contraponto is a cycle dedicated to 20th- and 21st-century composition, where we invite local, national and international ensembles and composers to guide us through the music of one of the most fertile periods in terms of new ideas and forms.