Andrea Portera (December 16, 1973, Grosseto) is a multi-awarded Italian composer. With a catalog of over 180 titles, Portera’s work explores the sound universe in an anthropological perspective, particularly in the connections that music generates between emotion and the unconscious: an extremely original production where the creative process is expressed through an “intuitive” identity even before being “stylistic”.
His works have been performed by international orchestras, including Tokyo Philharmonic, Rai Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philarmonic, Kymi Sinfonietta, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Symphonic Orchestra of the Slovak Radio, National Orchestra of Estonia, National Orchestra of Greece, Regional Orchestra Toscana (ORT), SPCO Chamber Orchestra in Minnesota, I Pomeriggi Musicali; and important chamber music groups, including Arditti Quartet, Indaco Quartet, Dedalo Ensemble, Stresa Festival Ensemble, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, the Soloists of Zagreb, Mdi Ensemble,ContempoArte Ensemble, Sentieri Selvaggi. Portera's works have been conducted by Noseda, Sollima, Rustioni, Passerini, Kawka, Iwamura, Gazon, Logiadis, Carrasco, Peleggi, Boccadoro, Montanari, Guttman, and he has collaborated with leading Italian artists such as Valentina Coladonato, Andrea Lucchesini, Francesco Dillon, Stefano Bollani, Luigi Attademo.
He has been commissioned by important theatres and festivals, including the 57th Venice Biennale, the Stresa Festival (2009 and 2012), the 62nd Santander International Festival, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Foundation, the 32nd Season of the Orchestra della Toscana, Suoni Riflessi, Composium 2007 Tokyo Opera City, Rebus at the Dal Verme Theater, ITU MIAM-Center for Advanced Studies in music in Istanbul, Antalya Piano Festival.
For the drama theater, he has composed music for Stefano Massini, in productions with Sandro Lombardo, Michele Placido, Ottavia Piccolo. In addition, he had Milena Vukotic and Maddalena Crippa as acting voices in his music. The Teatro della Pergola in Florence has commissioned Portera four musical theater events inspired by Pascoli, Gozzano, Palazzeschi and Campana, inaugurating a new synergy between poetry theater and opera.
He is regularly invited to juries in international competitions (Arturo Duo Vital International, Carella International, Luigi Nono competition, Call For Scores International, Music for Peace for the visit of the Dalai Lama in Italy, Morricone Awards, Florence International Choir Competition etc.) and as teacher (European Academy of the Quartet, Opificio Artes, Conservatory of Geneva, University of Architecture of Genoa, Academy of Italian Youth Orchestra, Superior Conservatory of Lyon etc.).
Portera carries out an intense didactic activity at the Music School of Fiesole, where he teaches composition at the three-year university and promotes the work of many young talented composers. He founded the .He is a member of the Artistic Committee of the Music School in Fiesole.
Andrea Portera is Head of Research & Development PERLART, the section of PER Lab (Psychology, Emotions & Research Laboratory – University of Florence spin-off in partnership with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence) which deals with emotional intelligence, art and creativity. Portera is a promoter of the Emotional Intelligence Renaissance Cultural Manifesto (EIR).
His works have been published by Suvini Zerboni, RaiTrade, Eurarte, Bucchi Prize, Le Monnier, Guido DʻArezzo Foundation, Hudobne Centrum Slovakia, Botin Foundation, Ema Vinci Edizioni, and, from 2025, by Casa Ricordi.
www.andreaportera.it