Dear Amigos,
Refreshing is the word that springs to mind when looking back on the visit from the Duo Mecina last month. They are a very bright young pair and gave us two distinctly different evenings both of which
were fresh and entertaining. And I must take this chance to thank Loes and Henk Vooijs for their ever generous kindness in providing the musicians with two of their lovely Vale Verde apartments. Next week we shall welcome the return of Anne Kaasa to the Cultural Centre. The last time Anne came to us was in September 2007 when, with kind support from the Norwegian Embassy, we marked the centenary of the passing of her fellow countryman, Edward Grieg. This time we shall celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Fryderyk Chopin in the second half of both concerts. In the first
half of the Wednesday concert she will play Bach and Beethoven and in Saturdays, Ravel. Incidentally, it was through Anne that we were introduced to our protégé Joana Ballmann, so who knows what unexpected delights she will bring this
time?
I hope everyone has made a note to keep the evening of Friday 23rd April free when at 7.00 pm there will be an Amigos only piano recital given by António Pedro Cebola. António you will remember was the undoubted star of our Paul Crossley Piano Masterclass concerts last October. He will play a short program of about one hour without an interval. Liquid refreshments will be served but there but there will be no buffet. We still have to be a little mysterious as to the purpose of this concert, particularly as even António has no idea what is going to happen, but as a clue, try The Royal College of Music and the thought of the Amigos playing a very positive and proactive part in this young mans future. He will play the Bach/Busoni Chaconne, the memorable Ondine and Scarbo from Ravels Gaspard de la Nuit and the Liszt Sonata in B minor. Whatever you do, do not miss wonderful evening and please call Christina to reserve a seat. The concert should end a little after 8.00 pm, in
perfect time to join friends for a bite of supper.
Plans are well in hand cheap viagra or cialis for our 20th Birthday celebrations on Friday 4th June which will take place at the Relais & Chateau Vila Monte near Moncarapacho. The location is excellent and I have no doubt that we can look forward to a glorious dinner with fine wines on a warm summers evening. I am attaching a separate invitation for you where you will discover menu details and offers of overnight accommodation. I hope the date fits in with any travel plans you might have already made and that you will be able to join our merry band when we mark two successful decades of enjoyable and worthwhile collaboration with the Centro Cultural de São Lourenço.
In May we shall see the return of Katya Apekisheva, piano, and Jack Liebeck, violin. I love these people. They work so well together and they work so hard. They have both made individual CDs which have been critically acclaimed and as well as all that, they are delightful young people. The last time they came to play for us was almost two years ago in June 2008. If you heard them then you are sure to come back to hear them again. If you didn’t, well, now’s your chance.
Kind regards,
Barry