Every two years, the Metropolitana has set out to celebrate the cello by evoking the memory of Paulo Gaio Lima, cello player and teacher who passed away in 2021. In 2023, the stage at Teatro São Luiz hosted, in consecutive days, the second Shostakovich concert and the second Haydn concert. Now it’s time for the first Shostakovich concert and the only Schumann concert. In tune with the spirit of passing down a legacy, that was so dear to Gaio Lima, two soloists from distant generations will be performing: the young Bernardo Ferreira, winner of the first edition of the Festival’s Award, and Pieter Wispelwey, renowned cellist with over 20 albums released and teacher at the Amsterdam Conservatory. To crown the festival, dozens of children and young people from across the country will come together in a great cello orchestra.

28 March
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
Dmitri Schostakovich Cello and Orchestra Concerto No. 1
Dmitri Schostakovich Chamber Symphony, Op. 83a (Rudolf [RM1] Barshai’s orchestration)
Soloist: Bernardo Ferreira (cello; winner of the first edition of the Paulo Gaio Lima Award)
Conductor: to be announced

29 March
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
Robert Schumann Cello Concerto
Robert Schumann Symphony No. 2
Soloist: Pieter Wispelwey
Conductor: to be announced

30 March
Orquestra de Violoncelos Paulo Gaio Lima
Programme to be announced
Artistic director: Tatiana Leonor