The Porto Opera Circle is a non-profit cultural association founded in December 1966, whose purpose is to promote the study and dissemination of opera among all social strata.¹ The initiative arose from a group of figures in the local artistic scene, among whom the conductor Gunther Arglebe stood out, but in the 80s and 90s it was mainly stimulated by the conductor Manuel Ivo Cruz, who was its director between 1970 and 1998. During the first years, operas requiring fewer resources were presented (such as Pergolesi’s La serva padrona, Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne, or Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz), and only gradually, from the beginning of the 80s, did longer and more complex works begin to be addressed (such as Carmen, Così fan tute, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly and La traviata).²
Regarding the associated artistic bodies, during Throughout its existence, the Porto Opera Circle never created its own orchestral group, opting instead to collaborate with various local orchestras. However, it did develop its choir, founded in 1966, which also performed independently and in collaboration with external institutions. In the 1990s, it even had a children’s choir. Furthermore, the casts of its productions were mostly composed of Portuguese singers, although there were also appearances by internationally renowned singers. Alongside its operatic activities, it also successfully performed some choral-symphonic repertoire. Among the initiatives undertaken, the “Opera Nights” stand out, with programs encompassing choruses and arias from the most celebrated operas.³
In recent years, the Porto Opera Circle has developed its activities in collaboration with local authorities, municipalities, and music education institutions, pursuing a purpose of cultural decentralization. In 1985 it was awarded the Medal of Cultural Merit by the Ministry of Culture, and in 2001 the Medal of Cultural Merit – Gold Grade, by the Porto City Council.⁴
