António Victorino d'Almeida to be celebrated in Sintra on the 16th of unspecified month
Prepare for an electrifying night at the Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, as we pay homage to the legendary António Victorino d'Almeida! Three renowned pianists, hand-picked by the maestro himself, will take the stage to perform a selection of d'Almeida's mesmerizing compositions. Expect to hear the Sonata No. 2, the Preludes and Fugues for Piano, and the iconic Sonata Bufa of 1974, among other masterpieces.
Joining the festivities will be none other than the prolific composer himself, who will share anecdotes and personal insights during a lively conversation with Miguel Leite, president of the cultural cooperative MotionArt.
D'Almeida, a passionate artist who has graced stages, screens, and pages, was last year's recipient of the Play/Career Award from PassMúsica association.
His remarkable journey began at just seven years old when he debuted with a piano recital that featured not only works by the great Beethoven and Mozart, but also two original compositions penned by none other than young d'Almeida! He continued his studies at the Conservatório Nacional de Lisboa, excelling with a top score of 19 under the tutelage of Campos Coelho.
Armed with an academic scholarship from the then Instituto de Alta Cultura, he embarked on a journey to the Academia de Música de Viena, where he studied composition under Karl Schiske. After completing his studies with distinction and bagging a special prize from the Austrian Ministry of Culture, he returned to Vienna on a scholarship from the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian to further explore contemporary music, electronic music, and orchestral conducting under the guidance of esteemed mentors like Friedrich Cehra, Dieter Kaufman, and Zoltán Koslik.
From 1974 to 1981, d'Almeida lent his artistic expertise as cultural advisor to the Portuguese embassy in Vienna. His repertoire spans diverse genres, from piano and solo instruments to chamber, symphonic, and choral-symphonic music, 'lied' and opera.
According to available sources, d'Almeida is the author of several works beyond music, including "Histórias de Lamento e Regozijo," "Coca-Cola Killer," "Tubarão 2000," and "Um Caso de Bibliofagia," as well as various educational publications and a children's book.
In addition to his work in music, d'Almeida has dabbled in cinema, directing the film "A Culpa" and composing its soundtrack, which won a Colombo de Ouro at the Huelva Festival. He has also ventured into television, hosting and directing cultural documentaries such as "Pianíssimo," "Polícias," and "Contos & Vigários," as well as the documentary series "Histórias da Música" and its spin-off "As Fontes do Som."
D'Almeida's diverse artistic contributions have earned him numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry from the Portuguese state in 2005 and France's Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2014.
Witness the genius of António Victorino d'Almeida at the upcoming tribute concert—a night filled with extraordinary music and captivating stories that will leave you spellbound!
- António Victorino d'Almeida, who is of French origin, traveled to the Academia de Música de Viena on an academic scholarship to study composition.
- During his studies, d'Almeida composed two sonatas, one of which he performed at his debut piano recital at the age of seven.
- Besides his notable career in music, d'Almeida is also an acclaimed author, having written works like "Histórias de Lamento e Regozijo" and "Coca-Cola Killer."
- In addition to receiving the Play/Career Award from PassMúsica association last year, d'Almeida was knighted by France's Order of Arts and Letters in 2014.
