This month the Algarve Orchestra (OA) will be presenting a music programme around the Christmas theme with several concerts taking place across the region.
Last week, the Orchestra presented two special shows in Ayamonte (Spain) and Tavira, entitled ‘German Music Cycle’, sampling German classical music with works by Mendelssohn, Mozart and Beethoven. The concerts were conducted by Pedro Neves, with special guest Jorge Alves, a member of the Matosinhos String Quartet.
Today, December 7, the Algarve Orchestra will be performing a special Christmas concert for children, sponsored by the CGD, at the Instituto D. Francisco Gomes (Casa dos Rapazes) in Faro, where 400 students and teachers are expected to attend. The British Associate Conductor John Avery will guide the children through an imaginary sleigh ride, where each musical piece will refer to a Christmas scenario.
The public can expect more joyous music from the baton of John Avery this Christmas season, with a series of concerts. On December 16, the OA will play a free entrance concert in Quarteira at 4pm, at the Church of São Pedro do Mar.
On December 22, the OA will be at the Municipal Auditorium in Lagoa at 9.30pm. The following day, December 23, the OA will be at the Cine-Teatro in São Brás de Alportel, at 6.30pm.
John Avery will be conducting pieces by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Berlioz, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev, Peter Warlock, Émile Waldteufel and Tchaikovsky, among others, accompanied by the sound of bells and sleighs.
A highlight will be the December 12 concert by the Orchestra as one of the OA founding organisations, the University of the Algarve, will commemorate its 30th anniversary. A day with several commemorative activities will conclude with a free concert by the Orchestra at the Main Auditorium of the Gambelas’ Campus in Faro at 9.30pm.
The concert will be conducted by Cesário Costa, the OA Main Guest Conductor, and will include two pieces, Divertimento nº 11 in D Major, K.251 by W.A. Mozart and Czech Suite Op.39 in D Major by Antonin Dvorák.
Tickets for the concerts in Lagoa and S. Brás cost €7.5 and can be bought at Convento de S. José in Lagoa or at the Galeria Municipal of S. Brás de Alportel, or at the door on the day of the concert.
