World Voice Day is marked this Monday, April 16, and this year has a music festival entirely dedicated to its theme. The 8th edition of the Festival Terras Sem Sombra – the largest Portuguese festival of sacred music – adopted the famous expression of Saint Augustine, “Com Voz Suave e Bem Modulada”, presenting a repertoire full of great voices.
The fortnightly concerts take place from March 24th and last until July 23rd in some of the most beautiful churches in Baixo Alentejo. Famous national and international voices from the operatic scene act in Portugal, placing the South of the country on the itinerary of European festivals.
“This enchantment by the voice, which is at the mysterious origin of the music and its expressive powers, is the guiding principle of the Festival Terras sem Sombra in 2012,” writes Paolo Pinamonti, artistic director of the Festival, in the introductory text of Terras Sem Sombra. year.
The decision to use voice as a motto was, according to José António Falcão, director of the Heritage Department of the Diocese of Beja and responsible for the Festival, “unanimous for the entire organization”. He added: “It seemed to us that after seven years of general dedication to music, heritage and safeguarding biodiversity, this would be a year in which we would devote special attention to the voice, as it is indisputably the center of all attention at a festival that throughout its career, it has excelled in bringing leading figures in international opera to Portugal, combining its presence with a set of activities aimed at promoting and energizing the region.”
World Voice Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of our main communication tool and to promote the measures to be adopted to keep it healthy. Professionals who use their voice as a work tool, such as singers, actors, journalists, teachers or politicians, must take special care with their voices.
On April 21, in Beja, a conference will be held by Rui Vieira Nery, professor at the University of Évora, president of the Scientific Committee for the Candidature of Fado for Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The theme takes up the name of the Festival edition “Cum liquida voce etíssima modulatione” (With a smooth and well-modulated voice).
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