The Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra (OML) is the cornerstone of a project that extends beyond the traditional format of a classical orchestra.

When it first performed publicly at the Jerónimos Monastery on June 10, 1992, the OML declared its mission to integrate artistic, educational, and civic roles through an optimized management of resources and a broad, inclusive vision of the musical phenomenon in all its facets. Always supported by the Lisbon City Council, state cultural institutions, and several municipalities in the surrounding region, and now with over three decades of activity, the value of this investment is widely recognized—not only for its accomplishments but, above all, for its vital role in the current Portuguese musical landscape.

The OML often branches out into smaller chamber ensembles and regularly joins forces with students to form a full symphony orchestra. This flexibility has enabled it to interpret a wide-ranging repertoire, from the Baroque to the contemporary, including opera and major Romantic symphonies.

Rather than focusing its performances in a single concert hall, the OML has steadily built a strong territorial presence, radiating from Lisbon to neighbouring municipalities, and more sporadically, across the Portuguese mainland and islands.

Throughout its history, the orchestra has also toured France, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Poland, Cape Verde, India, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, and China. It has performed over two thousand concerts, released 23 CDs and 1 DVD, and has been featured in numerous radio and television broadcasts.

The OML has collaborated with many of Portugal’s most celebrated soloists, including Maria João Pires, Sequeira Costa, António Rosado, Artur Pizarro, Pedro Burmester, Elisabete Matos, Gerardo Ribeiro, Vasco Barbosa, Paulo Gaio Lima, and Ana Bela Chaves, as well as renowned international soloists such as Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Leon Fleisher, and Natalia Gutman. It has been conducted by numerous distinguished maestros, including Enrique Dimecke, Arild Remmereit, Christopher Hogwood, Theodor Guschlbauer, and Emilio Pomàrico, and more regularly by Nicholas Kraemer, Brian Schembri, Olivier Cuendet, Enrico Onofri, and Michael Zilm.

OML’s artistic leadership has successively been entrusted to Miguel Graça Moura — the founder of the project — followed by Jean-Marc Burfin, Álvaro Cassuto, Augustin Dumay, Cesário Costa, and Pedro Amaral.

Since January 2021, Pedro Neves has been designated Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.