A project that aims to encourage more people to discover the music of Portuguese composers.
Over the last few years, I have dedicated myself to promoting the music of Portuguese composers in my concerts, both in Portugal and abroad. I have come to realize that these works are still relatively unknown and rarely performed. With each new performance, I am pleased to see the audience's growing interest and curiosity in discovering our music, and some people ask me where they can find scores and recordings of these works.
Motivated by the desire to bring Portuguese music to an even wider audience, I decided to create this project: to record professional videos of myself performing four piano works that I consider very interesting and that have been part of my recital programs across several seasons.
António Fragoso (1897-1918): Nocturno
Alfredo Napoleão (1852-1917): Rondo, op. 47
José Vianna da Motta (1868-1948): Fantasiesück, op. 2
José Vianna da Motta (1868-1948): Adeus, minha terra (from “Cenas Portuguesas”)
These videos will be made available online, free of charge, so that anyone, anywhere in the world, can discover and enjoy some of our music.
The funds raised in this campaign will cover the costs of hiring professional technicians to record, edit, and produce the audio and video, so that the final result can have excellent sound and image quality. It will also cover equipment rental, piano tuning, campaign rewards and crowdfunding fees.
Marta Menezes (fotos: Jorge Velez)
About the author
Marta Menezes is one of the most prominent Portuguese pianists of her generation. Her recitals explore the dialogue between tradition and originality, through proposals that highlight the nuances, subtlety, and musical sensitivity characteristic of her interpretation. Her repertoire, which reflects an affinity with Beethoven, spans from the Baroque to the present day, and often includes works by lesser-known composers, having included over sixty works by Portuguese composers over the years.
Among her recent collaborations are the concerts with the Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa, Orquesta Nacional de España, Orquesta Sinfónica de Radio Televisión Española, Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Orquestra Clássica da Madeira, and Sinfonietta de Lisboa. She has performed in auditoriums and festivals around the world, such as the National Centre for the Performing Arts (Beijing), St. Martin-in-the-Fields (London), Festiwal Urodzinowy Fryderyka Chopina (Warsaw), the Palau de les Arts (Valencia) and the Centro Cultural de Belém (Lisbon).
Throughout her career, Marta has won several awards and distinctions, including 1st prize in the Beethoven Competition at the Royal College of Music and in the Nice Côte D'Azur International Piano Competition, the "Medalha de Prata de Valor e Distinção" for her career as a pianist, awarded by the Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, and the Silver Medal at the Global Music Awards (USA) for her CD featuring works by Beethoven and Lopes-Graça.
www.martamenezes.com
Marta Menezes
Budget and due dates
Budget
The funds raised will be used to cover the costs of hiring professional technicians to record, edit, and produce the audio and video, ensuring that the final result achieves excellent sound and image quality. It will also cover equipment rental, piano tuning, campaign rewards, and crowdfunding fees.
Schedule
December 2024 to February 2025 - Crowdfunding
March to April 2025 – Visits to venues, selection of piano and location for recording
June to July 2025 – Audio and video recording and editing
August to October 2025 – Publication of videos on YouTube and excerpts on social media.
Rewards
- When and where will the Surprise Concert be?
The concert will take place on the afternoon of February 16th, at an original location near Santarém. On February 14th, backers will receive the exact location of this exclusive event via email, which will remain a surprise until then.
- Can I offer the piano lesson or the invitation to this concert to some friends as a Christmas gift?
Of course! I will create a personalized voucher, which I will send by email, with the names of the people to whom you are giving the lesson or the invitation.
- When will the online session about Portuguese music take place?
The session will be scheduled in the first half of 2025, on a date to be defined. I will send this information by email at the end of the campaign. There will be three sessions: one in Portuguese, one in Spanish, and one in English. I will talk about some of the main composers and present a selection of works for piano.
Images
