The Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa (OSP - Portuguese Symphony Orchestra), formed in 1993, is one of the São Carlos Opera House Theatre's performing arts groups. OSP has been carrying out its own symphonic activity, including regular concert programmes which have included its participation in Portuguese and international music festivals.
Within the sphere of other types of cooperation, the Orchestra presence at the following events should also be pointed: the 8th Eurovision Young Musicians Contest broadcasted by Eurovision to fifteen countries (1996), the Granada 47th. Music and Dance International Festival Final Concert (1997), the Frankfurt Book Fair Opening Gala Concert, the Lisbon Expo 98 Final Concert, Alicante Contemporary Music Festival (2000) and the Mérida Festival of Classical Theatre (2003).
OSP cooperates regularly with RTP – Rádio e Televisão de Portugal which responsible for radio broadcasts of its concerts and operas on Antena 2 and televised broadcasting of Wagner’s Der Ring Des Nibelungen on RTP2. RTP also joins forces with OSP in the Pedro de Freitas Branco Award for Young Conductors, in the RDP Young Musicians Award and in the International Young Performers Showcase.
OSP has performed in opera and concert seasons under the direction of renowned conductors such as Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Alain Lombard, Nello Santi, Alberto Zedda, Harry Christophers, George Pehlivanian, Michel Plasson, Krzysztof Penderecki, Djansug Kakhidze, Milán Horvat, Jeffrey Tate and Iuri Ahronovitch among others, and OSP discography includes two CDs for the Marco Polo label with Joly Braga Santos’ Symphonies No. 1, No. 5, No. 3 and No. 6 recorded under the direction of Álvaro Cassuto, by-then its Principal Music Director and “Crossing Borders” with music by Wagner, Gershwin, and Mendelssohn conducted of Julia Jones in a live recording for Antena 2.
The position of OSP Principal Music Director was occupied by José Ramón Encinar (1999/2001), Zoltán Peskó (2001/2004) and Julia Jones (2008/2011); Donato Renzetti was Principal Guest Conductor from 2005 to 2007 and Joana Carneiro is presently OSP Principal Music Director.