Taking advantage of the 10th Anniversary celebrations, the Orquestra do Algarve (OA) is now releasing its sixth CD, of its own edition, entirely dedicated to works by the notable Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla.
Recorded in November 2008, at the University of Algarve, under the musical direction of Cesário Costa, one of the most active Portuguese conductors of his generation, the new CD features the acclaimed accordion soloist Gonçalo Pescada.
The repertoire includes “As Quatro Estações Porteñas”, arranged by Ian Mikirtoumov, a tribute to the tango of Buenos Aires, as well as to the “serious” music of the great Italian composer Vivaldi.
Another highlight is the Concerto “Aconcagua”, another of Piazzolla's top masterpieces.
In fact, Piazzola was the important tango composer of the second half of the XNUMXth century, leaving behind his invaluable work – which covers some fifty records – and the enormous influence of his style.
Gonçalo Pescada began his musical studies at the age of 8 in the Algarve and continued his training in Lisbon (Instituto Musical Vitorino Matono), Castelo Branco (Superior School of Applied Arts) and France (Center National et International de Musique et Accordéon).
With the 1st Prize in the Estoril Interpretation Competition (Portugal, 2006), Gonçalo Pescada saw his career take an international path, performing recitals in Spain, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Bulgaria.
He has recorded for radio and television, including RDP Antena 2, RTP and the Bulgarian National Radio and Television. She is currently undertaking a PhD in Interpretation at the University of Évora.
Cesário Costa was Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Orquestra Clássica de Espinho and Orquestra do Algarve, as well as Artistic Director of the Promenade Concerts of Coliseu do Porto. He was awarded the Medal of Cultural Merit by the Municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia. In 2007 invited as vice president of the Jury of the Young Musicians Award. Alongside his activity as a conductor, he took up teaching posts in several schools and was a professor at the Catholic University of Portugal.
He is Principal Conductor of OrchestrUtopica and Principal Guest Conductor of Orquestra do Algarve. Since December 2008 he has been president of Metropolitana (Music, Education and Culture Association) and Artistic Director of Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa.
Orquestra do Algarve has already recorded two CDs for the Naxos label, one for Marco Polo and the other for Numérica. In November 2006, Orquestra do Algarve released its fifth CD, double, of its own edition, with works by Mozart.
The new CD is on sale at the headquarters of Associação Musical do Algarve, in Faro.
Comments