The Hilliard Ensemble presented, in its last concert in Portugal, the full parish church of Santiago do Cacém with an interpretation of remarkable technical superiority of an extensive and complete program, on a journey from Romanesque to Mannerism.
This weekend was marked by the farewell of the English vocal group from the Portuguese stages, after a brilliant career spanning four decades. The third concert included in the 10th edition of the Festival Terras Sem Sombra was thus part of the farewell cycle of one of the most notable groups of its kind internationally, which will end its career at the end of this year.
The headquarters of Santiago Maior witnessed a memorable concert, in which the four voices intertwined and gave life to the selection of fifteen ancient monodays and polyphonies, from Pérotin (XNUMXth century) to William Cornysh (XNUMXth century).
As Professor Paolo Pinamonti pointed out, “having the privilege of watching one of the best vocal groups in the world, in a remarkable setting such as the headquarters of Santiago Maior, is, in itself, something unrepeatable. If we add the fact that this is the group's last performance in Portugal, we are talking about a unique concert and exceptional quality”.
The following day, the people of Santiago had the opportunity to participate in the action to safeguard biodiversity promoted by the Festival Terras Sem Sombra, in collaboration with the Department of Nature Conservation and Forests of Alentejo (Natural Reserve of Lagoas de Santo André and Sancha), in for the ecotourism potential of the Portuguese coast.
The approximately 1000 meters that make up the Salgueiral da Galicia Trail preserve a grove of willows, of great quality and rarity, in which the extension of the roots to the surface of the soil forms a suspended root network of unusual size, which allows it to house rare species of flora and also several species of local fauna.
Festival Terras Sem Sombra goes to Beja
The fourth concert of the 10th edition of the Baixo Alentejo Sacred Music Festival will take place on the 10th of May, at 21 pm, with the stage at the parish church of Beja of the ensemble resident at the School of Arts of the Catholic University of Portugal, Capella Duriensis .
With musical direction by Jonathan Ayrest, the interpreted repertoire will emphasize Béla Bartók, one of the most original and versatile composers of the first half of the 1610th century, and the Portuguese João Lourenço Rebelo [1661-1563], Pêro de Gamboa [1638?-- 1566], Master of the Chapel of the Cathedral of Braga and Fr. Manuel Cardoso [1650-XNUMX].
The following day, the Festival promotes an action to safeguard biodiversity dedicated to the oak forest. This ecosystem is currently in clear regression, as a result of bad cultural practices, phytosanitary problems and loss of economic vitality, which have resulted in a decrease of more than 10 000 hectares of settlements in the last 15 years.
The activity, which will have the support of the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests and the Escola Superior Agrária of the Polytechnic Institute of Beja, will focus on visits to agro-forestry-pastoral farms associated with the Rede Natura Guadiana site.
Comments