Since its inception in 1976 by conductor/composer Odaline de la Martinez and flautist Ingrid Culliford, Lontano has established an international reputation as one of the most exciting and versatile exponents of 20th and 21st century music.

Lontano commissions, produces, performs and records with the primary aim of bringing contemporary work to the fore - particularly British, Women and Latin American composers. The ensembles sphere of activity includes contemporary opera, music theatre, concerts, workshops, education projects, tours, broadcasts and recordings. Performances feature some of the most noted, inventive and radical names in contemporary composition including Judith Weir, Martin Butler, Roberto Sierra, Errollyn Wallen, Nicola Le Fanu, Peter Sculthorpe, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Chen Yi, Lindsay Cooper, Tania Leon and Steve Riech. The ensemble’s global reputation has resulted in performances as far a field as Istanbul, Zagreb, USA, Canada, South and Central America.

Recent activities include performances at the Huddersfield and Cheltenham International Festivals, Chard Festival of Women in Music, the BBC Proms, the premiere of Paul Barker's opera 'Stone Angels' at the Bloomsbury Theatre, the enormously successful Émigrés Series on London's Southbank and the premier of Jenni Roditi's opera 'Spirit Child'.

An education and community programme is integral to Lontano's performing activity. The ensemble undertakes a diverse range of projects involving a broad spectrum of ages, cultures and social backgrounds. Recently Lontano undertook several educational and community projects in their borough of Waltham Forest. ‘If Walthamstow Market Could Sing’ was a large two month project involving 4 Walthamstow schools – including primary, secondary and special need schools, who joined forces with 4 East London community ensembles. The project reached its climax in an exciting performance at the Walthamstow Assembly Hall in July 2004. This was followed by an invitation from the British Council, Macedonia in which members of Lontano took part in workshops with 40 plus Macedonian students participating in ‘Blue Sky’ and culminated in a final performance in Krusevo.

Lontano have been ensemble in residence at Kings College, London University since 2002. Here, they interact with young composers offering unparalleled opportunity for compositions to be rehearsed and performed by professional musicians. This work is now central to the curriculum.