Algarve International Organ Festival to take place at iconic churches
The Algarve is set to host its 2024 International Organ Festival, bringing together music lovers and renowned organists for a series of captivating performances.
Running throughout November, the festival offers a wide range of concerts held in churches across several Algarve towns, including Faro, Portimão, Loulé, Tavira, Lagoa, and Lagos.
Admission to all events is free, making it a unique opportunity to enjoy world-class organ music in some of the region’s most beautiful historical venues.
Faro will serve as one of the central locations for the festival, with performances scheduled at the Igreja da Sé and Igreja do Carmo. Highlights include:
- November 2: Gregório Gomes and Coral Ossónoba at Igreja da Sé, 9pm
- November 9: Marco Brescia and soprano Rosana Orsini at Igreja do Carmo, 9pm
- November 16: Rute Magalhães and violinist Alexandra Camboa at Igreja do Carmo, 9pm
- November 23: Loriane Llorca at Igreja da Sé, 9pm
- November 30: Javier Artigas at Igreja da Sé, 9pm
Faro’s Igreja da Sé will also host extra events, including a children’s pedagogical concert with organist André Ferreira on November 14 (10am to 1pm), and a concert featuring students and invited guests from the Escola de Órgão da Sé de Faro on November 17.
Further west in Portimão, there will be three concerts at the Igreja Matriz:
- November 1: Gregório Gomes and Coral Adágio, 9pm
- November 2: Organ masterclass by Gregório Gomes, 10am to 1pm.
- November 8: Marco Brescia and Rosana Orsini, 9pm
The festival will also make its way to the municipality of Loulé, which will host two concerts in Boliqueime and one at the Igreja Matriz:
- November 8: Hélder Sousa and Ensemble Vocal Quarto Tom at Igreja Paroquial de Boliqueime, 9pm
- November 15: Tiago Ferreira and trumpeter Rúben Castro at Igreja Paroquial de Boliqueime, 9pm
- November 16: Organ and trumpet masterclass with Tiago Ferreira and Ruben Castro at the Loulé Music Conservatory, 10am to 1pm
- November 17: Tiago Ferreira and the Orquestra Barroca D’Aquém Mar at Igreja Matriz de Loulé, 6pm
In the eastern Algarve, Tavira will host events at several of its iconic churches:
- November 14: Guided tour of Tavira’s organs, starting at 6pm
- November 15: Rute Magalhães and Alexandra Camboa at Igreja da Misericórdia, 9pm
- November 22: Jorge Silva at Igreja de Santiago, 9pm
- November 24: Loriane Llorca and Coro Jubilate Deo at Igreja de Santiago, 6pm
The festival, organised by Música XXI, will also feature one-off events in Lagoa and Lagos, with Gregório Gomes set to perform at Lagoa’s Igreja Matriz at 6pm on November 3, and Javier Artigas at Lagos’ Igreja de Santa Maria at 9pm on November 29.
More information about the festival can be found on its Facebook page.
