Dear Amigos,

Thanks to those of you who emailed me to say how much they enjoyed the two concerts by Maestro Constantin Sandu. This was the second time we were lucky enough to have this busy pianist play for us. He came in October 2010 accompanied by his Romanian compatriot, the fiery violinist Horia Vacarescu. This year we enjoyed Dr. Sandu as a soloist in an extraordinarily demanding programme of Baroque and Romantic piano music; a fact that gave us the additional pleasure and benefit of his deep knowledge of and experience in teaching music. He is professor of music at the Escola Superior de Musica e das Artes in Oporto. His enlightening introductions to the individual composers and pieces programmed were appreciated as they deeply enhanced the enjoyment of listening to his forceful interpretations.

Next on the Amigo agenda is the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is habitually held in November of each year. This year the date is Monday, November 26th, 2012 and it will assess the activities of our association for the membership year 2011/2012, i.e. the period between September 2011 and July 2012. The convocations will be mailed in due time and I hope that all Amigos present in the Algarve at this time will join us at Sao Lourenco. Also, as has become tradition, we shall have a chance to listen to the latest Amigo protégé and sponsoree, Ana Beatriz Ferreira, in a programme of varied piano music. Beatriz is now in the third year at the Royal College of Music in London, where she is doing remarkably well, having made such progress as to receiving invitations to play with professional orchestras. She has this year played, with the SO das Beiras, Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto, and within the Beethoven Festival in L

eiria and Aveiros the master’s First Piano Concerto. Several Amigos went to Leiria to share this experience with the young, budding artist and were witness of an astounding success. She received good applause not only from a quasi full-house audience, but also from the orchestra, as well as proud acknowledgment from the conductor Ernst Scheele who, appreciatively, had taken her under his wing in the preparation for these daunting first public appearances. We were very proud of her and she is very grateful to the Amigos for our invaluable financial support. She says: “I would never be where I am without the Amigos.”

After the official part of the AGM there will be refreshments, followed by the piano recital, and then our caterers will see to our culinary wellbeing with a special supper. Hope to see you there and then.

Reminder: Please let our Secretary, Margaret Jackson, know by the end of October whether and

how many of you will be able to attend the Matinee of the Barry Shaw Memorial Concert on January 27th, 2013. This is important because the

number of Amigos attending will determine how many of Barry’s other friends can be invited. Please contact Margaret by email: margaretjackson19@gmail.com

When will the rains come? Are we this year going to go seamlessly into the “Verão de São Martinho”, the time around November 11th, missing out on the seasonal and much longed for soaking of our gardens? How spoiled we have  been with the best sunshine in Europe!

Helga Hampton President

helga.hampton@btinernet.com