Real Câmara Baroque Orchestra

11/09/2025

04/09/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that In Parasceve has been awarded the prestigious “Melómano de Oro” by Spain’s Melómano magazine!
This distinguished honor celebrates the world premiere recording of 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚 by José Joaquim dos Santos, beautifully performed by 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐂â𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚 and 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 under the direction of 𝐄𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐎𝐧𝐨𝐟𝐫𝐢.
This album was released in March 2025 on Pasacaille Records and continues to receive praise for its powerful interpretation of Portuguese Baroque sacred music.
🎶 Thank you to Melómano for this recognition and to everyone who has supported this project.

29/05/2025

The album 𝑱𝒐𝒔é 𝑱𝒐𝒂𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒎 𝒅𝒐𝒔 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒔: 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚, performed by 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖â𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮, 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞, and 𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗼 𝗢𝗻𝗼𝗳𝗿𝗶, is drawing international critical acclaim.
Following its release this year, the album continues to garner enthusiastic attention — most recently receiving a glowing 5-star review from Musica magazine, one of Italy’s most respected and enduring print publications dedicated to classical music.
This recognition from some of the field’s most knowledgeable experts is a significant milestone. Below are some of the most significant excerpts from the review:
“It must be said immediately that the interpretative approach adopted by Onofri, leading the Real Câmara ensemble (with period instruments) and the Officium vocal ensemble, has done full justice to the highly introspective nature of each of these compositions, all dominated by a particularly dramatic imprint as a result of powerful chiaroscuro passages (with frequent use of chromaticism), as can be heard in the Responsorium IV (Tamquam ad latronem existis), Responsorium V (Tenebrae factae sunt) and, even more so, in the striking Responsorium IX (Caligaverunt oculi mei), divided into four broad sections, dark and anguish- filled.”
Congratulations to the remarkable artists who brought this project to life!
Enrico Onofri - the artist page
Real Câmara Baroque Orchestra
Officium Ensemble
Marta Vicente
Diana Vinagre

15/04/2025

Album of the Week on NPO Klassiek 🎶
𝑱𝒐𝒔é 𝑱𝒐𝒂𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒎 𝒅𝒐𝒔 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒔: 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚

Performed by 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖â𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮, 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 and conducted by 𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗼 𝗢𝗻𝗼𝗳𝗿𝗶, this stunning new release has been selected as Album of the Week on the Dutch radio station NPO Klassiek.
Congratulations!
If you haven’t listened yet, now’s your chance!
https://www.npoklassiek.nl/klassiek/album-van-de-week/8a7cc221-7489-4448-b2b9-a38667eee76e/jose-joaquim-dos-santos-in-parasceve-responsories-for-good-friday

13/04/2025

José Joaquim dos Santos (1747-1801) e os Responsórios de Sexta-Feira Santa pelo coletivo Real Câmara de Marta Vicente

​https://www.rtp.pt/play/p302/e841577/musica-aeterna

13/04/2025

Apriamo la Settimana Santa con la recensione di "In Parasceve" di per Avvenire. Enrico Onofri e la Real Câmara Baroque Orchestra offrono una lettura intensa dei Responsori di Dos Santos, un ascolto che scuote e commuove.

✍️ Leggi la recensione:
https://www.avvenire.it/rubriche/pagine/dos-santos-le-ispirate-trame-per-i-responsori-del-venerdi-santo

💿 Acquista il disco:
https://passacaille.be/en/product/jose-joaquim-dos-santos-in-parasceve-responsories-for-good-friday/



Passacaille Records

28/03/2025

José Joaquim dos Santos: In Parasceve – Responsories for Good FridayRaquel Alão, Rita Filipe, Rodrigo Carreto, Hugo Oliveira, Officium Ensemble, Real Câmara Baroque Orchestra, Enrico Onofri – condu…

12/03/2025

O Cistermúsica ruma a com um concerto que abre o apetite para o 33.º Festival de Música de Alcobaça, a decorrer no verão, e assinala o lançamento do mais recente disco da Real Câmara Baroque Orchestra.

Do palco do Mosteiro para o coração da capital, apresentamos 𝘂𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘇𝗮, que recupera o património musical português: os Responsórios de Sexta-Feira Santa, de José Joaquim dos Santos (Óbidos, 1747-1801), numa estreia moderna que ecoa séculos de tradição.

Com 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗿𝗲, este programa promete uma viagem no tempo e 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘀 𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀.

Juntem-se a nós e venham ver a música antiga ganhar nova vida! 🎵

11/03/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖â𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮 is a Portuguese orchestra dedicated to historically informed interpretation, with a focus on Portuguese 18th-century repertoire and its links to Italy. Founded by musicians trained in Early Music, it brings together artists working in renowned European ensembles. The orchestra collaborates closely with conductor 𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗼 𝗢𝗻𝗼𝗳𝗿𝗶 fostering artistic empathy and shared vision.
Debuting in August 2021 at the Ajuda National Palace, Real Câmara performed Dal Tevere al Tago, featuring soprano Ana Quintans and conducted by Onofri. In 2022, it participated in the Cistermúsica Festival with a programme on sacred music in Saxony during Bach’s era. That year, it recorded Lusitano Impero, its first CD for Passacaille Records, featuring world premiere recordings of Portuguese repertoire from the early 18th century.
In 2023, 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖â𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮 performed at the Sintra and Espinho International Music Festivals and presented concerts for the Lusitano Impero release at the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon, Cistermúsica, and Fimuv. In June 2024, it recorded In Parasceve—the first-ever recording of the Good Friday Responsories by José Joaquim dos Santos (1747-1801) for Passacaille Records.
Committed to restoring Portugal’s musical heritage, the orchestra collaborates with musicologists, including its scientific advisor, Professor Cristina Fernandes. It studies archives such as the Ajuda Library, National Library of Portugal, and the Patriarchal Cathedral Archive, bringing forgotten works to modern audiences.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖â𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮 explores Portugal’s musical ties with Italy, following composers like Francisco António de Almeida, João Rodrigues Esteves, and Marcos Portugal, as well as Italian composers who worked in Portugal, such as Domenico Scarlatti and Davide Perez. It also highlights composers who wrote for the Portuguese court, including Alessandro Scarlatti and Nicola Porpora.
Beyond national dissemination, 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖â𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮 aims to share Portuguese musical heritage internationally through recordings of unperformed repertoire and participation in major historically informed performance festivals.
Photo by Fernando Jorge
Credits
Enrico Onofri - the artist page
Enrico Onofri - conductor
Raquel Alão - soprano
Rita Filipe - alto
Rodrigo Carreto - tenor
Hugo Oliveira - bass
Real Câmara Baroque Orchestra
Violas I: Raquel Massadas, Maria Cristina Vasi, Krishna Nagaraja
Violas II: César Nogueira, Archimaniaede de Martini, Simone Laghi
Cellos: Diana Vinagre, Teresa Madeira
Bassoon - Eyal Streett
Double bass: Marta Vicente
Organ - Fernando Miguel Jalôto
OFFICIUM ENSEMBLE
Sopranos: Inês Lopes, Mariana Moldão
Altos: Maria de Fátima Nunes, Rita Morão Tavares
Tenors: Jorge Leiria, Simão Pourbaix
Basses: Pedro Casanova, Rui Bôrras
Choir conductor: Pedro Teixeira
Recorded in Menino Deus Church, Lisbon (Portugal)
June 2024
Sound, digital editing and mastering | Jean-Daniel Noir
Video | Daniel Silva (Synedoc)
Executive Producer | Jan de Winne, Musurgia BVBA

02/03/2025

First Listen! 🎶

The first track from our upcoming album 𝑱𝒐𝒔é 𝑱𝒐𝒂𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒎 𝒅𝒐𝒔 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒔: 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚 is out now!

Responsory IX (Track 09) is available on your favorite streaming platforms.
https://orcd.co/vy4g57j

Performed by 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖â𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮 and conducted by 𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗼 𝗢𝗻𝗼𝗳𝗿𝗶, this world-premiere recording brings to life the music of José Joaquim dos Santos (1747–1801)—a key figure in 18th-century Portuguese sacred music, shaped by both local tradition and Neapolitan influence.

The full album arrives soon, with the physical edition launching on Friday, March 7.

Give it a listen and let us know your thoughts!

Credits
Enrico Onofri - the artist page Enrico Onofri - conductor
Alão - soprano https://www.facebook.com/raquel.alaojarego-
Filipe - alto https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004349080224https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004349080224
Rodrigo Carreto - tenor https://www.facebook.com/rodrigoccarreto
Hugo Oliveira - bass https://www.facebook.com/hmpoliveira
Real Câmara Baroque Orchestra
Violas I: Raquel Massadas https://www.facebook.com/raquel.massadas , Maria Cristina Vasi , Krishna Nagaraja https://www.facebook.com/krishna.nagaraja.338
Violas II: César Nogueira, Archimede De Martini, Simone Laghi https://www.facebook.com/slaghi
Cellos: Diana Vinagre, Teresa Madeira https://www.facebook.com/teresa.madeira.3
Bassoon - Eyal Streett
Double bass: Marta Vicente
Organ - Miguel Jalôto https://www.facebook.com/miguel.jaloto
Officium Ensemble
Sopranos: Inês Lopes https://www.facebook.com/ines.lopes.39589 , Mariana Moldão https://www.facebook.com/mariana.m.martins.9
Altos: Maria de Fátima Nunes https://www.facebook.com/maria.d.nunes.5, Rita Morão Tavares https://www.facebook.com/rita.moraotavares
Tenors: Jorge Leiria https://www.facebook.com/jorge.leiria.5 , Simão Pourbaix https://www.facebook.com/jorge.leiria.5
Basses: Pedro Casanova https://www.facebook.com/pedro.casanova.77, Rui Bôrras https://www.facebook.com/john.sundays.goodweather
Choir conductor: Pedro Teixeira https://www.facebook.com/pedrotx
Recorded in Menino Deus Church, Lisbon (Portugal)
June 2024
Sound, digital editing and mastering | Jean-Daniel Noir
Video | Daniel Silva (Synedoc )
Executive Producer | Jan de Winne, Musurgia BVBA