Fernando Lopes-Graça at 120 | Concert by the Coro Lopes-Graça of the Academia de Amadores de Música
To mark the 120th anniversary of the birth of Fernando Lopes-Graça (1906-1994), one of Portugal's leading 20th-century composers, the choir that bears his name returns to his choral music. The Coro Lopes-Graça of the Academia de Amadores de Música brings fresh interpretations to these works, and explains the context and meaning behind each piece along the way.
The programme, held in the auditorium of the Centro Cultural de Cascais, features songs from the «Canções Heroicas» (Heroic Songs) with piano accompaniment, alongside a cappella arrangements of traditional Portuguese folk tunes. The concert closes with a moment of communal singing.
Coro Lopes-Graça of the Academia de Amadores de Música
Conductor: Alexandre Weffort
Piano: Leonor Cardoso
Information and registration: +351 214 815 904 / +351 214 815 902 | mmp@cm-cascais.pt
Part one: «Canções Heroicas» (Heroic Songs)
1. Acorda Meu Povo (Maria da Purificação)
2. Cantar (Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen)
3. Portugal Cravo Vermelho (Armindo Rodrigues)
4. Mãe Pobre (Carlos de Oliveira)
5. Canção do Camponês (Arquimedes da Silva Santos)
6. Ronda (João José Cochofel)
7. Livre (Carlos de Oliveira)
8. Canção de Catarina (Papiniano Carlos)
9. Papoilas (José Gomes Ferreira)
10. Quando a Alegria For de Todos (André Varga)
«Sobre Lopes-Graça, o coro, os poetas e as canções» (About Lopes-Graça, the choir, the poets and the songs)
Part two: «Canções Tradicionais Portuguesas» (Traditional Portuguese Songs)
1. Inda Agora Aqui Cheguei
2. Bendita e Louvada Seja
3. Ó Senhora do Amparo
4. Já os Passarinhos Cantam
5. A Moda da Rita
6. Meu Amor Me Deu um Lenço
7. Fui Te Ver, 'Stavas Lavando
8. Dizes Que Sou Lavadeira
9. Malhão de São Miguel d'Acha
10. São Horas d'Emalar as Troixas
Communal singing
Firmeza (João José Cochofel)
Jornada (José Gomes Ferreira)
Acordai (José Gomes Ferreira)
The Coro Lopes-Graça of the Academia de Amadores de Música was founded in 1945, when composer Fernando Lopes-Graça (1906-1994) wrote a set of songs for choir and piano.
The choir has been active ever since. It was first led by its founder, with José Robert serving as assistant conductor and later principal conductor until 2019, when Alexandre Weffort took over.
The choir is dedicated to Lopes-Graça's choral works, and its performances aim to share his music, his ideas and his civic engagement.
