The most impactful cello festival in the country, which is also the only one held annually, will feature a month-long series of events across different locations, engaging approximately 80 participants, including collaborators and artists, according to the regional director of Inatel, Bruno Paixão.
During the event’s launch conference, artistic director Tiago Anjinho noted that to preserve the festival’s essence, the fifth edition will blend musical heritage with the city’s cultural landmarks, creating stages in venues such as the Biblioteca Joanina, which will host Ophélie Gaillard, hailed as “one of the world’s best cellists.”
This year’s schedule includes more events and a wider variety. One of the highlights is two Brazilian forró performances at Liquidâmbar and Mondego pools, marking this edition’s novelty.
The festival kicks off with a free concert by Vasco Dantas and Isabel Vaz at the Conservatório de Música de Coimbra, where C’Marie will perform real-time drawing in conjunction with the musical presentation, visible to the public and fostering artistic freedom.
A major highlight will be Ophélie Gaillard’s performance at the Biblioteca Joanina on September 22, a venue that rarely hosts concerts, ensuring each event is special, noted Delfim Leão, vice-rector for Culture, Communication, and Open Science at the University of Coimbra.
As Tiago Anjinho announced, the festival concludes at Convento São Francisco with Filipe Quaresma, described as “one of the greatest Portuguese cellists of all time,” premiering his work ‘The Protecting Veil’ with the Orquestra Festival À Corda.
The Teatro Municipal da Lousã in Coimbra will host a baroque-style performance with period instruments by Ayres Extemporae, also taking place at Sé Velha de Coimbra.
Throughout the month, audiences can enjoy the fusion of cello and Fado de Coimbra, without a singer, at the Escada do Quebra-Costas for free, and a Finnish artist Martti Rousi with the Quarteto Chiado at the Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Nova.
At the Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente, Luís Magalhães will join Torleif Thedéen, who plays an instrument dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
The curator of Violoncelo À Corda revealed that part of the proceeds from ticket sales will support the António Luís Gomes Social Action Fund, thanks to a partnership between the Associação Momentos À Corda and the Associação Académica de Coimbra (AAC).
Diogo Rocha, president of the AAC’s Assembly, explained that the António Luís Gomes Social Action Fund helps ensure no student is left behind due to financial barriers to education.
Rafael Nascimento, head of the Culture Division at the Coimbra City Council, clarified that the municipality is supporting the event with ten thousand euros.
