The Madeira Classical Orchestra, which has been active for sixty years and is one of the oldest in Portugal, is recognised as the preferred ‘project’ for the dissemination of classical music, to complement the training of young musicians and to promote the region's artistic and cultural heritage. It had its origins in the Chamber Orchestra of the Madeira Academy of Music in 1964, created for the pedagogical purpose of the Higher Music Course. It has been honoured by the highest authorities, by His Excellency the President of the Republic, the Regional Government of Madeira, the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, the City Council of Funchal and, recently, by the University of Madeira. It was conducted by the titular conductors Zoltan Santa, Roberto Perez and Rui Massena and by guest conductors, namely Gunther Arglebe, Silva Pereira, Fernando Eldoro, Merete Ellegaard, Paul Andreas Mahr, Manuel Ivo Cruz, Miguel Graça Moura, Álvaro Cassuto, Jaap Schröder, Luis Izquierdo, Joana Carneiro, Cesário Costa, Paolo Olmi, Jean-Sébastian Béreau, Maurizio Dini Ciacci, Francesco La Vecchia, David Giménez, Martin André, Jean-Marc Burfin, Philippe Entremont, Maxime Tortelier, Rui Pinheiro, Pedro Neves, Beatrice Venezi, Ariel Zuchermann, Gianluca Marcianò, Benoit Fromanger, Ernst Schelle, Evan-Alexis Christ, Stefan Dohr, José Eduardo Gomes, Nuno Coelho, Albrecht Mayer among others; and renowned national and international soloists have performed with it. Managed by the Notas e Sinfonias Atlânticas Association since 2013, the Orchestra, under the artistic direction of Norberto Gomes, is embracing a bold artistic project.
