27 Years of Great Music
To all Amigos/as
From Helga Hampton
Easter 2018
Dear Amigos,
I really hope and wish that you were among the lucky ones in Os Agostos last week when the great Piers Lane played for us. How privileged we are to have him come to the Algarve again – he has given us some memorable recitals over the years, and no surprise that also this time he played to two completely full house audiences. The varied programming showed his formidable technique and interpretative insights to the fullest, and once again reminded us that he is a Chopin pianist of a very particular distinction. And what brilliant memory !! We are fortunate to have made a firm friend of this outstandingly kind man so that there is justified hope to successfully inviting him back again. Thank you Piers !
This hope is also based on the good news that very kind Amigos have contributed to making Piers` stay comfortable and warm. Thank you to Amigos Prue and John Levitt for giving a dinner party for Piers. And another special “Thank You!” to Amigos Leonor and Johannes Griesler for welcoming Piers in their house and accommodating him during his stay in the Algarve, with all the trimmings !!!!
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FUTURE AMIGO EVENTS:
April 2018 will introduce the French pianist, Hélène Tysman, to the Amigos. On her programme for Tuesday, April 17th, 2018 are great pieces by J.S. Bach, including the wonderful Italian Concerto and 9 Preludes by C. Debussy, and on Thursday, April 19th, several Ballades by F. Chopin and the great “Gaspard de la Nuit” by Ravel among other pieces.
Hélène Tysman, piano
Please make your reservations as usual by sending Cristina an email to:
reservasconcertos@gmail.com or phone her on 914797980
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May 2018 is a busy month for us.
Early in the month, on Tuesday 8th and Thursday 10th, 2018, we welcome the pianist Evgeny Sinaiski and the cellist Kirill Timofeev for the regular monthly Amigo events at Os Agostos. These two musicians are known to us, as they were at Centro Cultural in the form of “Rastrelli Trio” I shall give you their programme suggestions in the next Newsletter edition.
Here is an invitation to the additional Amigo event on May 25th, 2018 :
INVITATION to a PRIVATE CONCERT in LISBON
by Maria José Falcão and Anne Kaasa
This very special event will take place at the residence of Maria José Falcão and her husband whose guests we will be. They have a spacious auditorium in their villa in the Ramada district of Lisbon as well as an important collection of vintage cars.
For the programme of the day they propose the following:
18h – Welcome drinks and tapas
18h30 – 1st part of the concert
19h – Intermission with drinks and tapas
19h30 – 2nd part of the concert
(Refreshments at the cost of €25.00 per person)
Ramada is on the northern outskirts of Lisbon and a 10 taxi-minute-drive from the Gulbenkian Foundation on Praça de Espanha. All participants will be given the exact address in due time. We take care of our own hotel reservations and many of us will be looking forward to making this a beautiful Lisbon weekend.
I have already received quite a few Amigo responses, thank you, and am looking forward to hearing from a few more – contact me via my email address. And, please invite friends who might be interested in joining us for this special outing, they will be very welcome.
RSVP
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NEW MEMBERS WELCOME: This gives me the occasion to welcome three new members in our midst who are, of course, included in this Invitation:
Irina Donde, who has come to several of our concerts, tells me that she, as a Russian musician and now Algarve resident, feels very pleased to be invited to become an Amiga. I shall introduce her at the next occasion.
Annabel and John Herbert also were motivated to apply for membership after experiencing several events at Os Agostos and they will be welcome participants in the Lisbon Special Concert event.
Welcome to you !
UPDATE ON OUR PROTEGÉS within our YOUNG MUSICIANS SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME:
Ana Beatriz Ferreira – “our” Beatriz is a very busy girl. A Royal College of Music graduate, she received a scholarship from Cardiff University to work on her PhD. In addition, the latest news is very exciting. She writes: “I have been invited to perform Rachmaninov`s 3rd PC in Portugal in various places this summer. On August 4th I shall be playing it at the Casa da Música in Porto!…..I shall also play the Joly Braga Santos concerto in Portugal end of September and I shall let you know the Évora date, where I shall be playing with the Orquestra Philharmonic Portuguesa.” And “As a cherry on top, I just got a job as Piano Tutor at the Junior Conservatoire for the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. And as a side note, I have started learning German ☺”. Why this Welsh focus, you ask? Well, her future husband is a Welsh clarinettist and Christmas wedding bells will be ringing this year.
Ana Beatriz Ferreira
Tiago Rosario – Writes end of January: “I take this opportunity to give you some good news. I just finished the first semester (of his last year) with great results, I had a 19 (out of 20) in my piano exam with Brahms 2nd concerto (a piece so difficult that, as all the piano teachers said, was never played in my school, ESMAE!). Constantin Sandu was in the jury.” Tiago will be finishing his course in Porto this year and is at the moment applying to European conservatories for further piano studies. He has enlisted the help of the pianist Bernd Glemser for advice.
SPECIAL NEW NEWSLETTER FEATURE:
The wider cultural scene near us is vibrant and varied, and even though, I am sure, you are all getting the monthly Agendas of your own Municipality, there is a lot more on offer further afield. We have established a friendly and mutually helpful association with the 365 Algarve – Região de Turismo do Algarve, who will add news of our activities to their advertising and information, and we in turn will benefit from more in depth details of selected cultural events.
I shall make an ANNEX of Selected Cultural Events part of my regular Newsletters – (1st edition see attached). These will not be limited to music only. But, please, contact the respective organisers for further information or ticket reservations – DO NOT REFER TO US.
OPERA IN THE CINEMA: The next relay from Royal Opera House Covent Garden will be Verdi`s “Macbeth” on April 4th, 2018. Directed by Antonio Pappano, with Anna Netrebko, Zeljko Lucic and Ildebrando D`Arcangelo, it is unmissable. BTW, you can now also see it at the new NOS Cinema at Mar Shopping.
Have a lovely Easter Time – I look forward to seeing you next at Os Agostos for the Hélène Tysman recitals,
which will be very special.
Best personal regards,
Helga Hampton
ANNEX
- Useful information about a selection of local cultural events
(provided by 365 Algarve- Região de Turismo do Algarve)
APRIL 2018
As part of the 33rd Algarve Intl Music Festival – FIMA – which takes place in various venues between April 6th and April, 21st, 2018, please note:
Saturday, April 21st, 2018 at 21:00 at the Faro Conservatório Regional do Algarve
Chilingirian Quartet is an important string quartet, with a large discography in a variety of genres and styles, from the classical to the contemporary as well as the folkloric.
They will present the following programme:
- A. Mozart String Quartet No. 17, K. 458 “The Hunt”
– Armenian songs and dances by Aslamazian – Komitas
– L.v. Beethoven String Quartet No. 14, op 131
Tickets: 10€
https://www.bol.pt/Comprar/Bilhetes/58923-fima_quarteto_chilingirian-auditorio_pedro_ruivo/
Duration: 80 minutes
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As part of the 2nd Algarve International Piano Festival on April 7th, 2018 at the Teatro Municipal de Portimão – TEMPO – at 21:30
Artur Pizarro with Orchester Câmara de Cascais e Oeiras, conducted by Nikolai Lalov
- v.Beethoven Concert for Piano and Orchestra, No.5, op 73
TICKETS: batutamota@gmail.com
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26 April, 2018 and 25 May, 2018 18:30 – Faro
FARO UNVEILED
A Visit to the City of Faro’s Historical Past
Faro Unveiled proposes a journey to the origins and the cultural diversity that were the foundations upon which the city of Faro and Algarve were built.
This show takes you on a visit to the city of Faro’s historical past, starting at the cathedral, then moving on to Faro Municipal Museum, and finishing at the old city walls.
Tartesso, a guide/actor, will take the group on a journey to Faro Cathedral, where you will have your first contact with the period of Phoenician colonisation of the Western Mediterranean, when the city of Faro was known as Ossónoba. Next, at Faro Municipal Museum, you will learn about the Roman and Visigoth periods. The journey continues to the old city walls, where the Arab period left us a vast cultural legacy, becoming part of the Algarvean and Portuguese identity. Lastly, King D. Afonso III has a message for all the participants.
At the end of the show there will be a wine tasting session with the artists.
More information: Vera Pinheiro 966 655 941 | farodesvendado@gmail.com
TICKETS: Adults €10 – Children and seniors €5 – discounts for groups
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MAY
ECOFEST – Music and Environmental Festival
from May 4th to May 6th, 2018
daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm in the Ria Formosa Nature Park, Olhão
The intention of this event is to continue on from ECOFEST, with a view to affirming a new festival concept in Portugal. The aim is to create a link between musical entertainment and contact with our natural and cultural heritage, giving people the chance to learn about this heritage, become acquainted with it, appreciate it and even contribute to its preservation and enhancement.
The environmental programme will include walks, bird watching, visits to the nurseries and the saltpans, the release of animals back into the wild by the association RIAS and boat trips in the Ria Formosa.
The artistic and cultural programme will comprise shows, concerts, story-telling and theatre, which will take place at the water mill and the Roman ruins. The shows will be creations by the choreographer Filipa Rodriguez.
In terms of the concerts, the selection will be based on world music groups, and lots of mobile music. There will be workshops featuring dances from around the world and there will also be social gatherings with music to dance to.
Donkey rides through the nature park will be available for adults and children. Donkeys used to play an important role in daily life in the region, and this is a way of supporting them and helping to preserve both the species and the traditions of the Algarve.
The motto of the festival is “happiness and good cheer”.
Free admission.
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CREDO – Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio
May 26th, 2018 in Aljezur at 19:30
Inter-Religious Oratory Concert in| Monte Clérigo – Aljezur
An intimate oratory concert that seeks musical meaning for the concept of “intercultural dialogue”. Composed from original texts by José Tolentino Mendonça and from other selected texts, it takes place amid the sublime scenery of the Vicentine Coast, on a promontory next to Monte Clérigo Beach. The repertoire being offered to the public is magnificent; the sacrality of the music from around the world encounters a common horizon with great stylistic freedom.
An unmissable opportunity to hear the gods draw closer to the sun.
Length: 60 minutes – TICKETS: €5.00 – Ages 12 and over – email: info@lavraromar.pt
Contacts: +351 282 144 379 | +351 913 943 034
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CLOWNS – Enano, Leo Lobo e Tosta Mista
May 31st and June 1st, 2018 at 21:00
at the Old Sawmill in Monchique
A show by three artists who live in the territory of the Southwest Alentejo and the Vicentine Coast. Their nationalities and approaches are distinct from the artistic language of clowns. They will be meeting with Giacomo Scalisi to discuss what it means to be a clown at the present time. A joint reflection on the dichotomy of identities between the man and the artist -clown, that may perhaps result in a tragicomedy or, at least, in something quite unexpected.
Length: 75 minutes
Age group: Ages 12 and over – TICKETS: € 7.00 – email:info@lavararomar.pt
Artistic and technical credits:
Artistic Director: Giacomo Scalisi
Creation: Enano, Leo Lobo and Torsten Grutjen “Tosta Mista”
Organised by: Working the Sea
Contacts: +351 282 144 379 | +351 913 943 034
Ages 12 and over – TICKETS: € 7.00 – email:info@lavararomar.pt
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