Portuguese musical heritage

Every year the UNESCO World heritage city of Sintra, Portugal plays host to an epic seven-week cultural festival of classical and contemporary music and dance, drawing in visitors with world class talent from all over the globe.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the festival, which will take place from June 10th to July 30th at historic venues around the city bringing together a diverse programme under the title of novelty and youth.

Sintra has a long cultural history with parts of the old town dating back to medieval times and much of its more recent architecture influenced by the 19th century romantic writers, travellers and aristocrats who flocked to the city.

The 2006 programme includes dance from companies such as the Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve, the Spanish Compania Nacional de Danza and the Scottish Dance Theatre, performing, among other things, the latest creation of the Portuguese choreographer Rui Horta.

Visitors can also expect music from Brazilian pianist, Cristina Ortiz, who will be performing as soloist with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, the Norwegian Leif Ove Andsnes and Nella Maissa, Sequeira Costa and the Tacet Quartet, which will be made up of award-winning final-year students from Portuguese music schools.

Posted by Just the Flight, 29 March 2006 14:36

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• Lisbon