Dear Amigos,

We have accidentally set ourselves a very difficult task this year. We like to schedule what we think might be the best concert of the year, somewhere towards the end of the season to encourage everyone to renew their subscriptions. However, in September we began our new year with two concerts which surpassed all our expectations. So much so that many people have said that the Sinaiski Trio gave the finest concerts they had ever heard at São Lourenço. They were truly excellent, but they are a very hard act to follow. Incidentally Evgeny Sinaiski is the son of the renowned Vassily Sinaiski who conducted the hitherto neglected and highly acclaimed performance of Sir Hubert Parry’s (of Jerusalem fame) 5^th Symphony at the London Proms last year, although he is better known as the conductor of the Mariinsky Opera and home of the Kirov in St Petersburg. Evgeny loved the Algarve so much when he was here that he has ambitions to set up an International Youth Concert Academy Algarve in 2012. It is a very ambitious project and as yet only in embryonic form, but anyone who would like to have more information or be a part of this wonderful idea should make a point of being in touch with me as soon as possible..

On the other hand, we have great expectations for next week too when we shall have the opportunity to welcome two more new faces to the Cultural  Centre. Teresa Krahnert and Ninon Gloger arrive on Monday and will play two concerts for violin and piano. The programs look fascinating and should please just about everyone, containing as they do, a goodly mix of familiar favourites and less well known pieces to inspire and keep us on our toes.

On Friday November 18^th

the Amigos Annual General Meeting will take place and as usual, it will be followed by an opportunity to hear our new protégé, Ana Beatriz Ferreira who has

just begun her three year course at the Royal College of Music in London. Ana Beatriz is a charming, clever and courageous young woman who qualified and was accepted for a much coveted place at the Royal College of Music in London. With the help of her family, the Amigos and other kind and generous sponsors, she has barely scraped together sufficient funds to put her through the course and she will still need to find further funds to see her through. Do come and listen to her and who knows? As they say these days; every little helps.

The Christmas and New Year concerts (28^th December and 4^th January) are looking good this and by

way of a change we have lined up two virtuosos of the guitar. Miguel Drago and Pedro Frias will play programs called ‘A Arte da Guitarra’ the details of which I will advise at a later date. The music should be good and it is definitely something to look forward to.

Finally, I must report a tragedy and so I have left it until the end. We all know the sisters Joselia and Amalia who have for countless years formed a vital part of the team at the Cultural Centre. They are a part of from a large Almancil family. Recently the head of the family, their father, passed away and so perhaps a light hug or a friendly commiserating smile would be appropriate if you are intending to come to concerts next week.

Kind regards,

Barry