Credit: CIP/CJP
On April 24 at 6 PM, the Gallery Space of the Porto Museum, located in the Alfândega do Porto Congress Center, hosted a Jewish music concert as part of the parallel program to the exhibition “Fluxo: Objetos, Pessoas e Lugares” (Flow: Objects, People and Places), organized by the Museum of Convergences (Museu das Convergências).
The concert was conceived as an exploration of the aesthetic and spiritual depth of Jewish musical tradition. It featured performances by Porto’s two Jewish choirs — Mekor Haim Choir and HaMakom Choir — with the aim of introducing audiences to a particularly expressive dimension of Jewish heritage. The program brought together elements of liturgical music with melodies tied to everyday religious practices, offering a rich and immersive cultural experience.
Credit: CIP/CJP
This artistic moment also established a direct and evocative connection with the Jewish ritual objects on display in the exhibition. Temporarily loaned by the Jewish Museum of Porto, these artifacts created a meaningful dialogue between sound, object, and memory. The interplay between material culture and spiritual expression contributed to an experience of notable symbolic depth.
The event was attended by more than fifty people from different generations, reflecting a broad interest in the cultural and spiritual themes presented.
Credit: CIP/CJP
Coro Mekor Haim, a project of the Jewish Community of Porto, was founded in October 2020 with the mission “to teach, learn, and perform Jewish liturgical, Sephardic, and Hebrew music for the education and enjoyment of its members and the wider community.” Coro HaMakom is an initiative of the Progressive Jewish Synagogue of Porto, conducted by David Kates and coordinated by Cindy Shapiro.
The concert was directed by Maestro Leonardo Mendonça, who holds a degree in Lyric Singing from the State University of Minas Gerais (Brazil). A vocal coach, musical director, and award-winning composer, Mendonça has performed in Portugal as a tenor and participated in the Coro Polifónico da Lapa. He was also invited as a guest conductor by the Israeli choir Shira during its Portuguese tour.
Credit: CIP/CJP
The exhibition “Fluxo: Objetos, Pessoas e Lugares”, on display until May 18, features 125 objects, primarily from the Museum of Convergences / Távora Sequeira Pinto Collection. It also includes loans from various institutions, five religious communities in Porto, and contemporary artists, offering a diverse perspective on the relationships between objects, people, and places.
