Marisa Monte Debuts 'Phonica' with 55-Piece Orchestra at Lisbon’s MEO Arena

Lisbon will hear the lush sounds of Brazilian pop re-imagined for a full symphony when Marisa Monte brings "Phonica" to the MEO Arena on 18 September 2026, pairing her touring band with a 55-piece orchestra under maestro André Bachur. For Portuguese listeners, long accustomed to catching the singer in more intimate settings, the scale alone promises an evening that sits somewhere between a rock concert and a night at the Gulbenkian.

Quick glance

• Marisa Monte debuts the “Phonica” concept in Lisbon on 18 September 2026.• A 55-piece orchestra conducted by André Bachur joins her regular band on stage.• Tickets already on sale, priced 28 €–66 €.• Symphonic arrangements of career-defining hits expected.

Why Lisbon matters

Portugal’s capital has become a crossroads where Brazilian artists and the sizeable diaspora meet, turning the Tagus waterfront into a living showcase of MPB. Marisa Monte’s decision to anchor her European leg here first underscores the Atlantic bond that years of relentless touring have forged with a Portuguese audience hungry for new dates beyond the usual summer festivals. It is also a reminder that culture still functions as a bridge: the night will intertwine pop exuberance with classical discipline, renewing a shared musical heritage after a pandemic-drained night-life pause.

The orchestral concept

“Phonica” is built around the idea that popular song can inhabit symphonic space without losing its rhythmic soul. The arrangers—working closely with Monte—took apart familiar melodies, reharmonising them for woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion while leaving room for the singer’s unmistakable timbre. Maestro André Bachur insists the collaboration avoids the trap of merely “sweetening” hits; instead, the orchestra becomes a second voice, capable of both intimacy and late-Romantic grandeur within the same verse.

Songs likely to feature

Although the official set list is under wraps, recent Brazilian dates suggest a 20-song journey where classics rub shoulders with deeper catalogue gems. The Lisbon crowd can reasonably expect orchestrated takes on “Bem Que Se Quis,” “Amor I Love You,” “Ainda Bem,” “Velha Infância,” “Magamalabares,” and Tribalistas favourite “Já Sei Namorar.” Each has been fitted with new textures, from pizzicato strings to sweeping horn chorales that elevate Monte’s trademark samba-pop fusion into what critics call a "pop-symphony".

Practical info: tickets, venue, getting there

Buying a seat is straightforward: Ticketline, Blueticket, and the usual FNAC counters handle sales, with prices scaled from 28 € (upper tiers) up to 66 € (golden circle). Doors open at 19:30 for an announced 21:00 start. The MEO Arena—still affectionately dubbed Pavilhão Atlântico by many locals—sits beside Oriente Station; arriving by Metro’s red line or CP suburban rail spares the headache of Parque das Nações car traffic. Inside, the venue will operate cash-free bars, so topping up a contactless card in advance is advisable.

Echoes from Brazil: reviews & reactions

South-American critics have been almost unanimous: “immaculate,” “irretocable,” and even “baphónico” are some of the superlatives thrown at earlier tour stops in São Paulo, Rio, and Belo Horizonte. Audiences there turned into spontaneous choirs, belting out every chorus while the orchestra injected cinematic drama. Reporters highlighted Monte’s discreet stage entrance—she appears after the first instrumental swell—as proof of a show that places music above persona. The Lisbon date offers Portugal a first-hand taste of that spectacle.

Crossing cultures: Portugal’s long affair with MPB

From the days when Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque sought Lisbon refuge, to present-day queues for Djavan and Gilberto Gil, the country has nurtured an enduring passion for Brazil’s songbook. Marisa Monte’s return, now backed by an orchestra, extends that lineage while hinting at future hybrids: might a Portuguese fado-sinfónico project reverse the flow? For now, September’s concert serves as a reminder that the Lusophone world’s richest dialogues still happen on stage, one shared chord progression at a time.