Ad Orientem

Ad Orientem is an artistic and research project carried out by Projecto Cardo in 12 iconic monuments in the north of Portugal in partnership with the Regional Directorate of Culture North and the Route of the Romanesque, with the support of DGArtes and Antena 2.

In each of the spaces covered by this project, a scientific and empirical analysis of their acoustic behaviour and architectural and practical conditions will be carried out with a view to holding professional concerts and recordings; for each monument, a traditional local song was selected for recording with a new arrangement by the Ensemble Cardo-Roxo or by a guest composer, and a date was chosen for a live concert for the community in which the piece will be heard. At the end of 2024, after all the recordings and information collected have been made and analysed, a disc will be released with the 12 new pieces chosen for the project and a website will be launched in Portuguese and English so that Portuguese and foreign musicians and producers can access all this information and choose the location that best serves their musical purpose. This project therefore has a twofold objective: to value and promote the tangible and intangible heritage of the municipalities involved and to attract a specialist audience that values and enjoys the possibilities and beauty of Portuguese heritage, which also contributes to local cultural enrichment.