In 2025, which commemorates 40 years since its foundation, Miso Music Portugal, the Portuguese chapter of the International Society for Contemporary Music / UNESCO, will organise, for the first time in Portugal, the iconic ISCM World New Music Days Festival, one of the biggest world new music festivals, taking place in Lisbon and in Porto between 30 May and 7 June. The underlying theme of the Portuguese edition of the ISCM WNMD 2025 Festival is “Thirst for Change”, combining artistic creation and expression with ecology, in favour of the preservation and sustainability of life on planet Earth. Teatro São Luiz joins forces with Miso Music Portugal and ISCM for two days of this international celebration of new music, providing an artistic framework to the Thirst for Change International Conference.
Programme
4th June
6pm | WNMD 2025 · CONCERT NO. 17
Sala Bernardo Sassetti
KOMOREBI DUO
Camila Mandillo · soprano
João Casimiro de Almeida · piano
ANTÓNIO PINHO VARGAS (Portugal, 1951)
A Maior Tortura (2006), 6′
EDUARDO LUÍS PATRIARCA (Portugal, 1970)
Livro dos Mantras em memória do Venerável Mestre Hsing Yun (2024), 6′
EVA AGUILAR (Portugal, 2002) YCA
[new work] (2024–2025), 10′ WP
FÁTIMA FONTE (Portugal, 1983)
Cartas Portuguesas (2020), 6′
ISCM Portuguese section
ISABEL SOVERAL (Portugal, 1961)
Ciclo Shakespeare – Since Brass nor Stone (2007), 11′
DANIEL OSORIO (Chile, 1971)
Zikkus-P (2010), 9’
ISCM Chile section
JIM O’LEARY (Canada, 1971)
Susan Pennefather Gray (2014–2015), 8′
Individual submission
ROBERT MCINTYRE (Australia, 1998) YCA
A Sea Spray of Ash (2019), 4′
ISCM Australian section
YCA · ISCM Young Composers Award candidate
WP · world premiere
The Komorebi Duo will present a diverse program showcasing works by international composers, including Jim O’Leary’s Susan Pennefather Gray, A Sea Spray of Ash by Robert McIntyre, proposed by the ISCM Australian section, and Zikkus-P by Daniel Osorio, from the ISCM Chilean section.
In addition to these international pieces, the performance will feature compositions by Portuguese composers from different generations, ranging from António Pinho Vargas to Eva Aguilar, along with works by Isabel Soveral, Eduardo Luís Patriarca, and Fátima Fonte.
Komorebi Duo is formed by Camila Mandillo (soprano) and João Casimiro Almeida (piano). Camila Mandillo, known for her extensive experience in opera and chamber music, has been gaining increasing recognition for her interpretations of contemporary music. João Casimiro Almeida is regarded as one of the most distinguished Portuguese pianists of his generation, collaborating with various ensembles dedicated to modern and experimental music.
9pm | MEETING WITH THE COMPOSERS
Sala Luís Miguel Cintra
participant composers to be announced
9:30pm | WNMD 2025 · CONCERT NO. 18
Sala Luís Miguel Cintra
CAMERATA ALMA MATER STRING ENSEMBLE
Pedro Neves · conductor
CHRIS CREE BROWN (New Zealand, 1953)
Evanesce (2023), 9′
ISCM New Zealand section
HAUKUR TÓMASSON (Iceland, 1960)
Air Sculptured (2022), 11′
ISCM Icelandic section
JI-HYANG KIM (South Korea, 1970)
Nachtmusik für Streicher (2012–2022), 12′
Individual submission
JOÃO QUINTEIRO (Portugal, 1984)
Madrugada II (2024–2025), 14′ WP
MAURO GODOY VILLALOBOS (Chile, 1967)
Moods for string ensemble (2016), 8′
ISCM Swedish section
RYTIS MAŽULIS (Lithuania, 1961)
Timeless (2024), 7′
ISCM Lithuanian section
WP · world premiere
A contemporary music concert featuring works from around the world, including Evanesce by Chris Cree Brown, Air Sculptured by Haukur Tómasson, Nachtmusik für Streicher by Ji-Hyang Kim, MOODS for string ensemble by Mauro Godoy Villalobos, and Timeless, a recent work by Rytis Mažulis, each piece proposed by a different ISCM section for the World New Music Days 2025. The program also includes the world premiere of Madrugada II by Portuguese composer João Quinteiro.
Performing these works is Camerata Alma Mater, a string orchestra founded in 2010 on the initiative of conductor Pedro Neves. Comprising outstanding and award-winning young Portuguese musicians, the ensemble is dedicated to performing string repertoire from various periods, with a strong commitment to presenting works by contemporary composers.
Pedro Neves is also the conductor and artistic director of the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, where he frequently conducts contemporary music.
5th June
6pm | WNMD 2025 · CONCERT NO. 20
Sala Bernardo Sassetti
SOND’AR-TE TRIO
Vítor Vieira · violin
Filipe Quaresma · cello
Elsa Silva · piano
ASHLEY JOHN LONG (Wales, 1986)
Beyond the Haze of Winter’s Edge (2020), 5′
ISCM Welsh section
DIANA ANDRASHENKO (Ukraine, 2001) YCA
Quadro sobre uma noite estrelada (2023), 7′
GEORG FRIEDRICH HAAS (Austria, 1953)
Ins Licht (2007), 3′
GONÇALO GATO (Portugal, 1979)
Elementos (2018), 10′
ISCM Spanish section
JOSÉ LUIS PERDIGÓN DE PAZ (Espanha, 1990) YCA
Torque (2019), 14′
Secção espanhola do ISCM
LENKA NOVOSEDLÍKOVÁ (Slovakia, 1989)
VPD (2024), 10′
ISCM Spanish section
SARA CARVALHO (Portugal, 1970)
sobre a areia o tempo poisa (2016), 9′
YCA · ISCM Young Composers Award candidate
The Sond’Ar-te Trio—featuring Vítor Vieira (violin), Filipe Quaresma (cello), and Elsa Silva (piano), musicians from the Sond’Ar-te Electric Ensemble founded in 2007, brings together proposals from various ISCM sections for the World New Music Days, celebrating the music of today.
The program includes Ashley John Long’s Beyond the Haze of Winter’s Edge, Gonçalo Gato’s Elementos, José Luis Perdigón De Paz’s Torque, and Lenka Novosedlíková’s VPD.
Additionally, the concert will feature works by two composers currently active in Portugal, representing different generations: Sara Carvalho and Diana Andrashenko. The program also includes a 2007 composition by renowned Austrian composer Georg Friedrich Haas, an artist who continues to explore new sounds and forms in contemporary music.
9pm | MEETING WITH THE COMPOSERS
Sala Luís Miguel Cintra
participant composers to be announced
9:30pm | WNMD 2025 · CONCERT NO. 21
Sala Luís Miguel Cintra
ENSEMBLE MPMP
Rita Castro Blanco · conductor
ÂNGELA DA PONTE (Portugal, 1984)
State of(f) Emergencies (2019), 10′
ANNA ÞORVALDSDÓTTIR (Iceland, 1977)
Aequilibria (2014), 14′
SAM HAYDEN (UK, 1968)
Die Abkehr (Turning Away) (2017), 11′
ISCM British section
SHIN KIM (South Korea, 1994)
Kaleidoscope (2023), 10′, YCA
ISCM South Korean section
VILLE ASLAK RAASAKKA (Finland, 1977)
The Harvest (2022), 10′
ISCM Finnish section
YCA · ISCM Young Composers Award candidate
WP · world premiere
Ensemble MPMP, conducted by Rita Castro Blanco, a promising young Portuguese conductor, takes the stage at São Luiz Theatre with a program featuring music from the past decade, offering a concert full of variety and surprises.
The program includes works proposed by different ISCM sections, such as Sam Hayden’s Die Abkehr (Turning Away), Shin Kim’s Kaleidoscope, and Ville Aslak Raasakka’s The Harvest, alongside Anna Þorvaldsdóttir’s Aequilibria and Ângela da Ponte’s State of(f) Emergencies.
Founded in 2012, Ensemble MPMP collaborates closely with musicologists and composers, focusing on both the rediscovery of musical heritage and the promotion of contemporary repertoire.
