We believe opera can be experienced by everyone.
Opera is often perceived as a world we do not belong to—filled with codes, rituals, and barriers that feel distant from everyday life. This sense of distance is particularly pronounced in Portugal, though it is far less evident in many European countries and parts of the United States.
Companhia de Ópera e Artes Contemporâneas – AREPO (AREPO – Opera and Contemporary Arts Company) closely follows the most recent international approaches, methodologies, and operatic creations, especially projects aimed at bringing opera closer to wider audiences and fostering meaningful engagement. The need for an institution in Portugal capable of fulfilling these artistic and social goals became increasingly clear, which led to the founding of AREPO in 2019.
AREPO’s first production took place on August 30, 2019, in Torres Vedras, with the immersive opera É Possível Resistir (It Is Possible to Resist), featuring music by Luís Soldado and a libretto by Rui Zink. This production marked an innovative moment in the Portuguese operatic landscape, bringing together professional musicians and singers alongside local musical and theater associations from Torres Vedras, involving around 80 participants. The success of this project confirmed a vision of opera freed from both social and artistic constraints.
AREPO seeks to innovate across contemporary music-theater forms and to contribute to the development and dissemination of opera, musical theater, and other contemporary arts. It is equally committed to bringing opera to diverse audiences and contexts, with a particular focus on new opera and on research and creative laboratories involving emerging artists.
Through public discussions and mediation initiatives, AREPO encourages philosophical reflection on pressing issues in contemporary society. It also invites both artists and communities to engage in immersive, inclusive, and transformative creative processes.
Currently, AREPO’s artistic direction is led by Luís Soldado, with Linda Valadas as stage director, Rui Pioneiro as music director, Patrícia Brito in production, Ana Andrade in performance, and Rui Zink as writer.
