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Classical Music in Portland
From opera to symphony to chamber ensemble, Portland offers top-notch classical music.
Oregon Arts Watch
Portland Opera, the Oregon Symphony and Chamber Music Northwest offer an ongoing lineup of inspiring performances, from timeless works to modern interpretations.
Chamber Music Northwest
Crowds flock to this five-week season of concerts presented by Chamber Music Northwest every summer (June-July); a one-week Winter Festival is held in late January/early February.
Fear No Music
Creating curiosity in modern and contemporary classical music through live ensemble performance and their youth mentorship programs, Fear No Music presents the music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in a chamber ensemble.
Oregon Symphony
More than 300,000 people each year enjoy performances of works from classical to pop by the Oregon Symphony under the direction of David Danzmayr. Season: September-May.
Portland Baroque Orchestra
The Portland Baroque Orchestra presents classical music on historical instruments in intimate settings. Season: October-May.
Portland Opera
One of the United States’ top opera companies, the Portland Opera has an anything-but-stuffy approach. Season: February-August.
Know Before You Go
For the 2022-23 season, all ticket holders, regardless of age, are required to show proof of full COVID vaccination or a negative test result from a COVID PCR test (taken within 72 hours of performance time) for entry into the theater. Visit the Portland Opera website for more information.
In addition, all patrons, regardless of age, test results and vaccination status, are required to wear masks inside the theatre at all times (except when consuming food or beverages).
Portland Taiko
The performers in the award-winning Portland Taiko Asian American drumming ensemble weave rhythm, melody, humor and movement together into an exhilarating musical experience.
Third Angle New Music
Pulling the classics into the new age, Third Angle New Music has set out to create the “soundtrack of our time” by commissioning new works by living composers and presenting innovative performances in collaboration with theater companies, sound artists, and performers locally and internationally.
Classic Venues
These historic venues in downtown Portland lend a stage to top-notch live music.
Keller Auditorium
Keller Auditorium is Portland’s oldest and largest publicly owned theater building, seating more than 3,000 and hosting Broadway touring shows, opera, ballet and more. Sitting across from iconic Keller Fountain, art fans flock to this dowtown venue.
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
This historic downtown performance space in the heart of the cultural center houses the Oregon Symphony and hosts many touring acts. Close to downtown parks and restaurants, the Schnitz (as locals call it) resounds with art and culture.
Antoinette Hatfield Hall
Antoinette Hatfield Hall houses the Newmark, Brunish and Winningstad Theatres and some of Portland's most beloved theater and dance companies.
Upcoming Classical Concerts
Immerse yourself in the sounds of classical music at these upcoming events.
Philip Mandel
Join Philip for his 70th Birthday celebration at The Reser. Enjoy music by Grieg (his wonderful Holberg Suite), Schubert’s heavenly Impromptu in G-flat, Beethoven’s best-known piano piece (Moonlight Sonata), two works by Chopin (Nocturne in C-minor and Revolutionary Etude), and more. Come for the concert, stay for the reception at Grey Raven Gallery (two blocks…
Mahler’s First Symphony
A titanic work of unbridled expression and orchestral color, Mahler’s First Symphony charts a journey in which the composer crosses tranquil meadows, witnesses a funeral march, and triumphs over self-doubt. Plus, violinist Benjamin Beilman brings his talent to showstopping miniatures by Ravel and Saint-Saëns. Program Gabriel Kahane: World Premiere and Oregon Symphony Commission Saint-Saëns: Introduction…
Cappella Romana: Arvo Pärt & Galina Grigorjeva (Odes of Repentance)
Cappella Romana opens its 32nd season with music for healing, for repentance in the Orthodox sense: a change of mind, moving towards the Good. Begin with the North American premiere of Vespers by Ukrainian-Estonian composer Galina Grigorjeva. Selections from her fellow Orthodox composer Arvo Pärt complete the concert with works from the 31st recording release,…
Orion Quartet Farewell Tour with Ida Kavafian
Reach for the stars with the world-renowned Orion String Quartet as they celebrate their 36th and final season together. Hailed as “consistently beguiling and technically impeccable” (The Los Angeles Times), don’t miss your last chance to hear violinists Daniel Phillips and Todd Phillips — brothers who share the first violin chair equally — violist Steven…
An Enchanting Evening of Classical Music
Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of classical music as the Tualatin Valley Symphony proudly announces its upcoming fall concert. Join an unforgettable evening of timeless melodies and masterful performances by the orchestra's talented musicians. This exquisite concert program features a selection of classical masterpieces that will transport the audience to the depths…
Fauré Piano Quartet
One of the world’s leading piano quartets, the German-based Fauré Piano Quartet is highly regarded for their visionary approach to music, whether it is performing arrangements of pop songs, appearing in clubs like Le Poisson Rouge, or getting children excited about chamber music with their “Rhapsody in School” program. “Right up there with the best…
Elgar's Cello Concerto
The riveting cellist Joshua Roman plumbs the emotional depths of Elgar’s powerful Cello Concerto, a work of searing intensity and profound beauty. And Mason Bates’ Anthology of Fantastic Zoology brings a bevy of mythological creatures to life in a virtuosic showpiece. Program Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3 Elgar: Cello Concerto Mason Bates: Anthology of Fantastic…
Eydís Evensen
“Classical music gamechanger” The Line Of Best Fit “Few artists are so effortlessly able to twist your heartstrings into a contortion of joy, sorrow and despair like Eydís Evensen” Wonderland Magazine The 29-year-old – who also sings on the album, for the first time – confronted her hardships and sorrows to create The Light….
Lunchtime FREE Concert Series
The Old Church Concert Hall's gift to the community for over 50 years. Free classical concerts on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at noon. The 2023 season will be live-streamed with a live audience on 3rd Wednesdays at noon. Shifting to a once-each-month schedule means you can continue to enjoy these shows in-house or…
Songs of Loss & Lamentation
Join the singers of In Mulieribus for a heartfelt program that explores the universal human journey through loss and mourning to healing and peace. Featured music will include songs by Dufay, Lassus, and Morales, as well as new works for women’s voices—Lux aeterna (2022) by Sungji Hong and selections from Six Medieval Lyrics (2006/2010), a…
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil
Oregon Repertory Singers opens its 50th Anniversary Season with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s world-famous All-Night Vigil. Considered “among the most beautiful of all works for the unaccompanied chorus” and “the greatest musical achievement of the Orthodox Church”, this work holds a special place in Oregon Repertory Singers history. After its premiere in 1915, All-Night Vigil vanished almost…
Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante
Concertmaster Sarah Kwak and Principal Viola Amanda Grimm shine in Mozart’s sublime Sinfonia Concertante — part concerto, part symphony, always overflowing with melodies of operatic grace. Plus, experience the tragedy of Verona’s star-crossed lovers in selections from Romeo and Juliet, Prokofiev’s fiery ballet score. Program Elena Kats-Chernin: Dance of the Paper Umbrellas Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante…
The Marriage of Figaro
The adventures of Figaro and Susanna unfold with wit and delight in this satire about nobility and power. Count Almaviva is determined to woo Susanna, who is engaged to Figaro — a servant in the household. The betrothed will do whatever it takes to navigate the Count’s advances, and the Countess — fed up with…
Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique
“I have put my whole soul into this symphony,” Tchaikovsky wrote of his Pathétique, with its melancholic melodies, defiant dances, and a harrowing final statement. Plus, Composer-in-Residence Andy Akiho pays tribute to visual artist Jun Kaneko’s storied career in a multimedia work inspired by the ceramicist’s colossal sculptures. Program Dvořák: Othello Overture Andy Akiho: New…
Dalí Quartet
The Dalí Quartet is acclaimed for bringing Latin American quartet repertoire to an equal standing alongside the Classical and Romantic canon. The Dalí Quartet was the recipient of the 2021 Silver Medal at the inaugural Piazzolla Music Competition, and the 2019 recipient of Atlanta Symphony’s esteemed Aspire Award for accomplished African American and Latino Musicians….
Cappella Romana: Out of the Ashes of Smyrna – The Legacy of Byzantine Chant from Asia Minor
From medieval seeds planted long ago, exuberant traditions of Byzantine chanting in Asia Minor continued to flower during Ottoman rule. With the Asia Minor Disaster—an ethnic cleansing that included the 1922 burning of Smyrna (İzmir)—Greek-speaking refugees fled to Greece and elsewhere around the world. With them they brought their own traditions of Byzantine chanting. Catch…
Trills & Treasures
The Oregon Symphony is going on a musical adventure, and they want you to come along. Follow clues and solve puzzles as you journey with the orchestra searching for the ultimate treasure. With interactive elements and a mix of classical and popular tunes from Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, and more, this concert is…
Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream
Mendelssohn transports you to Shakespeare’s fantastical world of fairies and magic spells, with puckish strings, chattering woodwinds, and brassy fanfares. Principal Guest Conductor Jun Märkl leads this enchanting work alongside Strauss’s Death and Transfiguration — an electrifying musical poem exploring the spiritual journey of passing lives. Program Strauss: Death and Transfiguration Mendelssohn: Incidental Music to…
Pacifica Quartet
The multiple Grammy award-winning Pacifica Quartet has achieved international recognition as one of the finest chamber ensembles performing today, known for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and daring repertory choices. “Nothing short of phenomenal.” The Telegraph Program: Mon, Dec 4 PRICE Quartet No. 1 in G Major Ben JOHNSTON Quartet No. 4 “Amazing Grace” BEETHOVEN…
Cappella Romana: The 12 Days of Christmas in the East
Music director Alexander Lingas leads Cappella Romana in a joyful program of early and contemporary music from the Greek Orthodox tradition sung during the Twelve Days of Christmas. Medieval Byzantine chant, choral works by Greek Americans Frank Desby, Tikey Zes, and Peter Michaelides, and by Michael Adamis and Sir John Tavener. Originally performed in the…
Chanticleer
The Grammy award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer has been hailed as “the world’s reigning male chorus” by The New Yorker. One of the most prolific recording and touring ensembles in the world, Chanticleer has sold over one million recordings and performed thousands of live concerts to audiences around the world. “They are, to put it directly,…
Telegraph Quartet
Grand prize winner of the 2014 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition and winner of the prestigious 2016 Naumburg Chamber Music Award, this adventurous young group is known for “a combination of brilliance and subtlety.” (The Telegraph) “Soulfulness, tonal beauty and intelligent attention to detail.” San Francisco Chronicle Program: Mon, Jan 22 “First Time’s a Charm” BRITTEN…
Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano & Christopher Cano, piano
Known for her commanding stage presence and profound artistry, Jennifer Johnson Cano has garnered critical acclaim for her glorious voice, impressive nuance, thrilling resonance, and remarkable tone. A voice of rare depth and charisma. “This is how recitals should be sung: gripping, communicative, and spellbinding.” examiner.com Program: Vincenzo BELLINI Vaga luna, che inargenti Malinconia, ninfa…
Cappella Romana & Kingdom Sound Gospel Choir: How Sweet the Sound – Black Voices in Orthodox Music
Black composers, poets, and hymnographers join musicians from multiple traditions for events exploring the intersections between Black and Orthodox sacred music. The concert will open with Bright Sadness, Orthodox hymns by the nun Mother Katherine Weston based on Black spirituals. The second half features Vespers: How Sweet the Sound by jazz musician and composer Dr….
Harlem Quartet
Formed in 2006 by first prize laureates of the Sphinx Competition, the Harlem Quartet strives to advance diversity in classical music while engaging new audiences with varied repertoire that includes works by minority composers. Downbeat Magazine says it best: “top-notch chops, sensitive ears and surprising guts.” “Bringing a new attitude to classical music, one that…
VOCES8
The 2023 Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble VOCES8 inspires people through their music and their joy of singing. Versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression are central to the ensemble’s performance and education ethos. Their performances are praised for their meticulous timing and tuning, impressive blend, and radiant sound. “The singing of VOCES8 is impeccable…
Cappella Romana: In You, O Woman Full of Grace – Music for the Virgin Mary
From the earliest days of the Christian tradition, the faithful have venerated the Virgin Mary through song, telling the story of her life and the cosmic significance of her role as the Mother of God. This program presents music for her drawn from the Greek and Slavic traditions by both ancient and modern composers. Giving…
Time for Three
To experience Time For Three live is to hear the various eras, styles, and traditions of Western music fold in on themselves and emerge anew in charismatic and energetic performances. Bonded by an uncommon blend of their instruments fused together with their voices, Time for Three has found a unique voice of expression to share…
Kronos Quartet
Founded at a time when chamber music was largely centered on long-established, Western European traditions, Kronos has been at the forefront of revolutionizing the string quartet into a living art form that responds to the people and issues of our time. In the process, Kronos has become one of the most celebrated and influential groups…
Tallis Scholars: Darkness to Light
The Tallis Scholars return to the series with a program spanning Lent and Easter, especially poignant this year as their tour takes place between the dates of Easter, March 31 on the Gregorian calendar and May 5 on the Julian. Two expansive settings of the Lamentations (White and Tallis) fill the first half, with the…
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