Teatro Viriato hosts the final of the Viseu International Guitar Competition

Culture

Teachers from the Music Conservatory perform this Sunday in the Aula Magna of the Polytechnic Institute. Find out what you can see in the first days of the Spring Festival in Viseu

Photographer: Luís Belo/Viseu Spring International Music Festival

The 17th International Spring Music Festival has begun, in Viseu. The Aula Magna of the Polytechnic Institute (IPV) and the Grão Vasco National Museum (MNGV) are starting to host the first concerts of the event that will last until April 20th.

This Wednesday (3rd), the MNGV will host a concert by Margarita Escarpa at 7pm, one of the most acclaimed classical guitarists today and who presents a repertoire that ranges from the Renaissance to “Honze Diferencias de folías” by Juan Andres de Mendoza to the contemporary era of Fernando N. Lobo, including emblematic pieces by Dionisio Aguado, Federico Moreno-Torroba, and Antonio Lauro and the premiere in Portugal of “Valse à Royan” by Fred Alan Ponthieux.

Immediately afterwards, at 9pm, Opus Duo’s performance begins. The duo, formed by Francisco Berény Domingues (guitar) and Tiago Azevedo and Silvia (cello), was formed in 2019 and has already performed concerts in Paris (France), Trani (Italy), Florence (Italy), Lucerne (Switzerland) and several festivals in Portugal. The duo has a repertoire dedicated mainly to Iberian music.

On Thursday (the 4th), the MNGV welcomes guitarist Judicaël Perroy, considered one of the great talents of classical guitar today, at 7pm. The artist was distinguished in international competitions and presents in Viseu a repertoire that ranges from Johann Kaspar Mertz’s “Hungarian Fantasy” to interpretations by Enrique Granados and Isaac Albéniz, as well as Bach.

Two hours later, it’s the turn of the Sevilla Guitar Duo of Francisco Bernier and Antonio Duro, who will perform old flamenco songs and music from the Spanish region of Andalusia.

On Friday (the 5th), Orquestra XXI returns to perform at the IPV’s Aula Magna, at 9pm. This formation had already closed last year’s edition of the Spring Music Festival.

This time, the orchestra led by maestro Dinis Sousa will perform Robert Schumann’s 2nd Symphony, with the presence of soloist Maria W?oszczowska in the performance of the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 5 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The concert will also mark the national premiere of “Elongation of Nights”, by composer Just? Janulyt?.

On Saturday (6th) and at the same time, Teatro Viriato will host the final of the sixth Viseu International Guitar Competition. This year, 27 guitarists from Belgium, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain and Ukraine compete in the competition.

And, on Sunday (7th), teachers from the Viseu Music Conservatory will gather for the Spring Concert, scheduled for 5pm in the IPV’s Aula Magna.