The Foundation

Music is one of Casa de Mateus' ways of being. The positive organ installed in the Chapel since its inauguration in 1759, as well as the different period instruments that can be found in the House, are symbols of a passionate relationship, which is also evidenced by the creation of the Opera House by D. Luís António, 4th Morgado de Mateus, as an inaugural gesture in his capacity as Governor of the Captaincy of São Paulo, a position he held between 1765 and 1775.

Since the Casa de Mateus Foundation was founded, music has been one of the strongest areas of the artistic and cultural programme. As early as 1978, as a fundamental component of the Culture in Dialogue programme, the Foundation held its first classical music concerts with the participation of musicians Adriano Jordão, Joana Silva, Patrícia Chiti, the Salzburg Academic Camerata and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. The following year, the Baroque Music Courses began. Since then, with the Vila Real Music Festival between 1985 and 1995, the Music in the North Festival until 2004, programmes such as Caminhos de Mateus | Aldeias com Vida, held in 2016 and 2017, the International Music Encounters, the 31st edition of which will be held in 2023, or the countless creation or recording residencies, audiences in Vila Real, in a wider region that includes the centuries-old connection with Galicia and in the country can enjoy a rich and intense programme.

Casa de Mateus International Music Encounters

In 1979, the first edition of the Baroque Music Courses took place. Right from the second edition, the impetus of Gustav and Marie Leonhardt put the Courses on the international map and contributed decisively to a transformation in the panorama of early Baroque music in Portugal.

Up until 2005, 27 editions were held, attended by many hundreds of students, most of whom would go on to build solid musical careers. In 2018, the Foundation decided to resume organising the XXVIII Casa de Mateus International Music Encounters. Under the artistic direction of Ricardo Bernardes and the pedagogical direction of António Carrilho, two more editions have since taken place, the last of which in 2020. After another two-year break due to the pandemic, the Encounters will return in 2023 with the XXXI edition. In addition to the Baroque Music Courses, the International Music Encounters include a programme of concerts and musicological conferences that make it a place for sharing and knowledge.

Vila Real Music Festival

In 1985, the first Vila Real Music Festival was organised, which for several years was mainly oriented towards Baroque music, followed by a few years in which singing was the favoured area and, since 1993, it has extended to Jazz and other musical styles.

The Festival was born as part of the Casa de Mateus International Music Encounters, which in addition to the Festival include music courses with 16 or 17 subjects and conferences on musical themes. The number of concerts has increased to around 40 every year, with great artistic quality, extending to heritage sites throughout the Northern Region, with incursions into Galicia, which has allowed this Festival to establish itself as one of the largest in Portugal and one of the most important in Europe.

Music Festival in the Northern Region

Between 1995 and 1999, with the support of sub-programme C of Pronorte, and since 2000 with the support of the Operação Norte programme, measure 1.4, the Foundation's activities have expanded significantly, institutionalising the "Music in the Northern Region" Festival.

Projects

Festival Música a Norte

Em 1985, organizou-se o primeiro Festival de Música de Vila Real que durante vários anos foi principalmente orientado para a área da música barroca, seguindo-se alguns anos em que o canto foi a área privilegiada e, desde 1993, estendeu-se ao Jazz e a outros estilos musicais.

O Festival nasceu enquadrado nos Encontros Internacionais de Música da Casa de Mateus que incluem para além do Festival cursos de Música com 16 ou 17 disciplinas e conferências sobre temas musicais. O número de concertos aumentou passando para cerca de 40 todos os anos, com grande qualidade artística, estendendo-se a lugares patrimoniais de toda a Região Norte, com incursões pela Galiza, o que permitiu a este Festival afirmar-se como um dos maiores portugueses e um dos importantes na Europa.

SABER MAIS

Encontros Internacionais de Música da Casa de Mateus

Criados em 1979, os Encontros Internacionais de Música da Casa de Mateus assinalaram, sob o impulso de Gustav e Marie Leonhardt, uma transformação radical do panorama da Música Antiga em Portugal. Interrompidos em 2005, regressam em 2018, com direção artística de Ricardo Bernardes e direção pedagógica de António Carrilho.

Anualmente, numa paisagem particularmente propícia, marcada por um dos mais importantes monumentos barrocos em Portugal, juntam-se mais de três dezenas de músicos em torno das ideias de transmissão e estudo intensivo de instrumento, voz e diferentes agrupamentos de câmara nos domínios da música antiga e barroca. Os fins de tarde dos Encontros são preenchidos com uma agenda de concertos que ocupam os espaços da Casa e transbordam em relação com a cidade. Pelo meio, as conferências emprestam um sentido de reflexão e debate que aprofunda o conhecimento das matérias musicais e estende novos caminhos de exploração de ideias e repertórios.

SABER MAIS

3. Encontros Internacionais de Música da Casa de Mateus

EVENTS

2023