Portuguese pianist Artur Pizarro headlines four-concert programme

The third Lagoa Piano Festival is returning with four concerts in May, including a performance by world-renowned pianist Artur Pizarro.

Born in Lisbon in 1968, Artur Pizarro gave his first public performance at the age of three and made his television début on Portuguese television at the age of four. After studying at some of the best piano schools in Europe, he went on to win prizes at the 1987 Vianna da Motta Competition, the 1988 Greater Palm Beach Symphony Competition and the 1990 Leeds International Pianoforte Competition. Pizarro now performs internationally with some of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors.

The 54-year-old pianist will perform a solo piano recital at Carlos do Carmo auditorium on May 8 at 6.30pm, and will also lead a masterclass for advanced level piano students.

The festival’s second concert will feature jazz pianist Alexandre Dahmen, who will be presenting a combination of traditional American jazz tunes as well as some of his own songs at Mexilhoeira da Carregação church on May 15 at 6.30pm.

A week later (May 22), also at 6.30pm, pianist Cristina Silva and cellist Sunita Mamtani will bring the ‘Uma viagem sonora pela paixão’ (A sonic voyage through passion) recital to Porches church where they will interpret pieces by L. V. Beethoven, Sergei Rachmaninov and Frederico de Freitas.

The final concert on May 27 at Carlos do Carmo auditorium at 9pm will feature Ensemble Artis XXI, a musical collective bringing together invited musicians and teachers from Lagoa’s Art Conservatory. The ensemble will interpret a sonnet for two pianos and percussion by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók and present a musical piece by Portuguese composer Teresa Gentil about the Algarve’s ongoing drought situation.

The programme also features musical performances by pianist Shaine Nazareth at local nursing homes, piano workshops at local schools led by Teresa Gentil, and a concert featuring students from Lagoa’s Art Conservatory.

The event is organised by Artis XXI, while its artistic director is pianist Jeferson Mello.

Tickets for the May 8 and 27 concerts cost €8 and can be purchased online at ticketline.pt while admission is free for the two other performances.