Javier Perianes, Piano

for reservations please send an e-mail to ccsl@iol.pt or call 289 395 475

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The Gaudi Quartet

Wednesday, 23rd May

PROGRAMME

Mozart Divertimento in D, KV 136
Allegro
Andante
Presto

Schubert string quartet in a, D804: “Rosamunde”
Allegro ma non troppo
Andante
Menuetto, allegro
Allegro moderato

**********

-Dvorak string quartet nr. 12, op.96: “American”
Allegro ma non troppo
Lento
Molto vivace
Finale: Vivace ma non troppo

Saturday, 26th May at 7.30 pm

Mozart Divertimento in F, KV 138
Allegro
Andante
presto

Britten, Simple Symphony for string quartet
Boisterous bourrée
Playful pizzicato
Sentimental saraband
Frolicsome finale

*********

Mendelssohn string quartet no. 2, op 13. in a minor
Adagio – Allegro vivace
Adagio non lento
Intermezzo: Allegretto con moto – Allegro di molto
Presto – Adagio non lento

for reservations please send an e-mail to ccsl@iol.pt or call 289 395 475

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MARIANNA SHIRINYAN, PIANO. These concerts will be on  Wednesday April 11th and Saturday April 14^th 2012. The program on Saturday will feature pieces by Franz Schubert, Alban Berg and Frédéric Chopin while the Wednesday program will have music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Komitas Vardapet, Carl Nielsen and Franz Liszt.

MARIANNA SHIRINYAN was born in 1978 in Yerevan, Armenia.  She started her music studies at the Tchaikovsky music school in Yerevan when she was seven.  She went on to study in Hamburg and completed her studies with top grades at the Musikhochschule Lübeck in 1997.

Marianna has received considerable acclaim in many competitions.  In 1994 she was placed first in the Youth Chamber Music Competition in Paderborn.  In 2001 Marianna received both the top prize of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival and the Possehl Music Award.  The next year she won the 1^st prize of the International Lion’s Competition.  She was the highest prize winner at the “Premio Vittorio Gui” chamber music competition in Florence.

“We are lucky to have her in Denmark” presenters, audience and critics exclaim.  Since she won 5 prizes at the prestigious ARD competition in 2006 Marianna has been establishing herself as an international concert pianist and chamber musician as well as teaching in the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen.   She has performed with philharmonic orchestras, on radio and television and in regular chamber music festivals. The Danish Music Critics’ Association awarded Marianna their annual prize in 2009. The next year Marianna was awarded the special P2 Artists Prize by Danish Radio. During this year Marianna will be recording all the Mozart concertos with the Odense Symphony Orchestra for Bridge Records.

Listen to Marianna on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Z2ACh1Tmo and on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTsq0dpjOb0

For more information about the concert program please see www.centroculturalsaolourenco.com

Concerts at the Centro Cultural begin at 7.30pm sharp.  Doors open at 6.30pm and wine and lemonade is served from 7.00pm.  During the interval wine and canapés are served. Entry is €25 for guests and non-members. For concert bookings please call Marie at 289395475 or send an e-mail to ccsl@iol.pt

The AMIGOS is an international group of around 110 members who support the musical activities at the Centro Cultural by underwriting the concerts. For more information please visit the AMIGO’s website www.amigos-de-musica.org

MAY 2012 CONCERTS. THE GAUDI QUARTET.  These concerts will be on Tuesday May 22^nd. and Saturday May 26^th., 2012. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION       APRIL 2012 CONCERTS             16.03.2012

MARIANNA SHIRINYAN, PIANO. These concerts will be on  Wednesday April 11th and Saturday April 14 ^th., 2012. The program on Saturday will feature pieces by Franz Schubert, Alban Berg and Frédéric Chopin while the Wednesday program will have music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Komitas Vardapet, Carl Nielsen and Franz Liszt.

MARIANNA SHIRINYAN was born in 1978 in Yerevan, Armenia.  She started her music studies at the Tchaikovsky music school in Yerevan when she was seven.  She went on to study in Hamburg and completed her studies with top grades at the Musikhochschule Lübeck in 1997.

Marianna has received considerable acclaim in many competitions.  In 1994 she was placed first in the Youth Chamber Music Competition in Paderborn.  In 2001 Marianna received both the top prize of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival and the Possehl Music Award.  The next year she won the 1^st prize of the International Lion’s Competition.  She was the highest prize winner at the “Premio Vittorio Gui” chamber music competition in Florence.

“We are lucky to have her in Denmark” presenters, audience and critics exclaim.  Since she won 5 prizes at the prestigious ARD competition in 2006 Marianna has been establishing herself as an international concert pianist and chamber musician as well as teaching in the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen.   She has performed with philharmonic orchestras, on radio and television and in regular chamber music festivals. The Danish Music Critics’ Association awarded Marianna their annual prize in 2009. The next year Marianna was awarded the special P2 Artists Prize by Danish Radio. During this year Marianna will be recording all the Mozart concertos with the Odense Symphony Orchestra for Bridge Records.

Listen to Marianna on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Z2ACh1Tmo and on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTsq0dpjOb0

For more information about the concert program please see www.centroculturalsaolourenco.com

Concerts at the Centro Cultural begin at 7.30pm sharp.  Doors open at 6.30pm and wine and lemonade is served from 7.00pm.  During the interval wine and canapés are served. Entry is €25 for guests and non-members. For concert bookings please call Marie at 289395475 or send an e-mail to ccsl@iol.pt

The AMIGOS is an international group of around 110 members who support the musical activities at the Centro Cultural by underwriting the concerts. For more information please visit the AMIGO’s website www.amigos-de-musica.org

MAY 2012 CONCERTS. THE GAUDI QUARTET.  These concerts will be on Tuesday May 22^nd. and Saturday May 26^th., 2012. 

ABOUT THE AMIGOS AND THE CENTRO CULTURAL SÃO LOURENÇO

The Centro Cultural São Lourenço is located next to the historic Church of São Lourenço, near Almancil, and its exhibitions by well-known artists and sculptors is open to private viewing. It is now in its Thirtieth Year. The AMIGOS celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2010.

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Now that Algarveans here in the best-weather-corner of Europe switched to Summer Time as a reminder
of the arrival of Spring – was there ever a winter??? – we Amigos can again look forward to spreading
out onto the spacious and beautiful terraces of Sao Lourenco for our monthly musical get-togethers. This
will be more than welcome for full-house events like our March concerts, when Paul Crossley, one of
our “regulars” – aren’t we lucky!? – gave us two unforgettable evenings of mainly 19th century music,
his forte, and it seems that tout l’Algarve was keen not to miss these cultural raisins.
Many thanks to those committed and generous Amigos who offered hospitality to Paul Crossley and came
forward with invitations to taking him out to dinner during his stay in the Algarve this time. Very much
appreciated – thankyou.
Let me take this opportunity to reassure you all once more that even though the gallery business of Centro
Cultural de Sao Lourenco (CCSL) is in the process of being wound down, we certainly will be continuing
our concert programme as planned for the present 2011/12 season right there. Season ends in June.
The big “Farewell Party” to which Marie Huber invited on Saturday, April 7th, 2012 at 18:00 is a
celebration of 30 successfully active years and she certainly wants us all there for the occasion.
The world in which we live seems to be in the process of remodelling itself and we all are called upon to
prove just how flexible and imaginative we are in order to overcome this pervasive austerity stretch that
some see as a great cleansing operation.
When the invitations to our new membership year 2012/13 go out at the end of May 2012, you may see
this flexibility reflected in the way we are planning to spread our wings as far as some new venues are
concerned. However, as far as calibre of artists is concerned I can already promise you that there will be
no changes to the customary high standard. So, please, feel free to tell friends and other music-lovers that
AAMSL is alive and kicking and what a wonderful contribution we are/have been making to the local
cultural life.
For example: We can next look forward to Marianna Shirinyan, an Armenian pianist from Denmark
in April who will present herself to us with a most varied programme of music by Schubert, Chopin,
Berg, Mozart, Nielsen. THE CORRECT DATES ARE: Wednesday, April 11th and Saturday, April
14th, 2012. Please make sure that you email your reservation to ccsl@iol.pt as soon as possible.
*****
One more date for your concert agenda: At Centro Cultural in Lagos, Thursday, March 29th, 2012 at
21:00 you can hear our “old” sponsoree, Nuno Silva Marques, in a piano recital with music by Liszt
and Debussy. Nuno, who we sponsored during his studies with Artur Pizarro at the London Guildhall
School of Music, is pursuing an international soloist career all the while teaching as head of the piano
department at the Oporto Music Conservatory and the Braga Music School. Please make yourself
known to him as “Amigo”. His website is: www.nunosilvamarques.com

Helga Hampton
helga.hampton@btinternet.com

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Dear Amigos,

The second part of our 2011/12 AAMSL membership year began with the two February
piano recitals by Anne Kaasa. Anne has been a very popular AAMSL artist – this was her third appearance here
and the attendance of her most recent concerts certainly proved that fact most admirably.
She captivates with her virtuosity and always enchants with the selection of her
programme which this time included a seldom heard Portuguese composer, Antonio
Fragoso, in the midst of Grieg, Debussy, Ravel, Albeniz and de Falla. Anne had us spellbound
with her rendering of impressionist colour and Spanish fire and temperament – a
real forte of this beautiful artist. Lucky those who were able to come and lucky the
students who have a chance to benefit from a teacher of Anne’s calibre – she considers
her teaching work at the Escola Superior de Musica in Lisbon a very important task
besides pursuing an active and very successful international soloist’s career.
As the gallery business of our habitual concert venue, Centro Cultural de Sao
Lourenco (CCSL), is gradually being wound down, I am happy to reassure you that we
have a standing appointment with Marie Huber for the remaining 8 concerts planned for
the membership year of 2011/12, i.e. to the end of June. I shall keep you up-to-date about
all and every future developments as and when they are being realised.

The dates for the AAMSL March 2012 Paul Crossley concerts are:
Wednesday, March 21st and Saturday, March 24th, 2012 at the usual time of 19:30
CCSL doors open at 6.30 pm
Please make your reservations a.s.a.p. either by email ccsl@iol.pt
or by telephone 289 395475
*****
Unfortunately I have the unenviable obligation to end this Newsletter with very sad news:
Barry Shaw, AAMSL President for the last 6 years, is not winning the battle against the
foes that invaded his body. The bone cancer in his spine is of the most aggressive and
debilitating kind that he will never be able to stand in front of us again. He is being made
as comfortable as possible during treatment at the Nursing Home of Palhagueira. So, I see
myself as passing from the position of interim president to taking over AAMSL
responsibilities as acting president again. As such I hope to be able to carry on AAMSL
business as planned and, of course, I shall try to answer all questions you may have.

Helga Hampton

helga.hampton@btinternet.com

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December 26, 2011

 Dear Amigos,

Barry Shaw has asked me to write this end-of-year AAMSL Newsletter and relieve him of the task to communicate with you and inform you of his illness.

Our President was diagnosed with secondary bone cancer on his spine originating from a tumour in his lung.  He has been undergoing radiology therapy on his back and is scheduled for lung chemo-therapy as soon as the initial treatment has taken effect.

Barry is in specialists’ hands at Gambelas Hospital in Faro where he is being made as comfortable as possible and was in fact given a holiday reprieve which enables him to spend Christmas in the house of a friend in Vilamoura. In-hospital treatment will recommence after the holidays and so I would like to ask you to join me in wishing him strength, fortitude and patience, and his team of oncology professionals the best possible discernment in the choice of treatment towards a successful containment of his malady.

***

Looking back to the 21st Annual General Meeting in November in which our dapper, albeit already ailing President, reported on another successful year as far as AAMSL concert-making was concerned; he also courageously broached the subject of the not so very successful CCSL gallery business, a problem that, of course, has the potential of affecting our very much appreciated venue. Marie Huber finds herself adversely involved in the general and global economic turmoil, and so the assembled AAMSL membership was invited to brainstorm with a view to preventing in the best of all possible ways a closure of the gallery in the near future.

Several ideas have come forward as a result, and while these are being explored, may I urge you to give this daunting problem some more thought. Who can think of a potential solution, be it a restructuring or, indeed, a purchase of CCSL ?

As is by now tradition, the AGM went out in a celebratory tenor, including the presentation of, and piano recital by, AAMSL’s new sponsoree, Ana Beatriz Ferreira, followed by an excellent supper, on the invitation of Marie Huber and her CCSL Team.

Ana Beatriz Ferreira is a 20-year old pianist from Lisbon, who came to us  not only recommended by our old friend, music professor and cherished artist, Anne Kaasa, but also by the fact that she had already gained a place at London Royal College of Music. This was deemed to qualify her as recipient of our (AAMSL) and the Carp Foundation’s (MCM) financial aid, a prerequisite and absolute necessity for this young artist. (This aid will help defray the RCM 3-year study fees, albeit only partially, as living costs in London are substantial. I am happy to report that two generous Amigos have meanwhile also individually contributed to her tuition fund. Thank you very much, Michael and Helen.)  Beatriz presented herself on November 18^th, 2011, with a captivating recital of music by Mozart and Liszt, as a result of which the decision to offer her our purse was amply borne out and by which she also endeared herself completely to the assembled members.

It will be exciting to follow the progress of this charming, passionate and very determined young woman. Stay tuned.

Looking forward to the next concerts of the 2011/12 membership year, it seems that there are only raisins to report (for your diaries):

February 22^nd and 25^th, 2012 brings the abovementioned “old” friend, Anne Kaasa

March 21^st and 24^th, 2012, special friend, Paul Crossley, will uplift our spirits

April 11^th and 14^th, 2012 is an introduction of Mariana Shirinyan – eagerly awaited

May 22^nd and 26^th, 2012 gives us a chance to meet the “Gaudi Quartet”

June 13^th and 16^th, 2012 will close the season with Javier Perianes on piano.

Enjoy !

And the rest is silence – yes, let there be some reflective silence during which we all in our own individual and cherished ways go about wishing Barry as good a way as possible towards recovery and return to AAMSL. We miss him.

When some of you meet up for the Christmas concerts on December 28th and January 4th, 2011 please encourage each other to give some reflective and silent thought to wishing Barry a good recovery and return to AAMSL.

All that remains for me now is to say:  Barry, we miss you and we shall in our own individual and proven ways try to contribute positively to the defeat of your trials and tribulations. Get well soon!

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PAUL CROSSLEY, piano

MARCH 21st and 24th, 7.30 pm – doors open at 6.30

for reservations please call 289 395 475 or send an e-mail to ccsl@iol.pt

**************

Entry is 25€ per person for non-members which includes wine and a selection  of canapés

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The AMIGOS’ AGM 2010/11 was held at the Centro Cultural São Lourenço on Friday November 18th., 2011.  The AGM, under the leadership of Assembleia Geral’s president, John Levitt, was conducted with his usual humor and style.  Barry Shaw, the president, reported on the events of the previous 2010-11 AMIGOS’ year which included many excellent concerts and the celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the Centro Cultural São Lourenço.

The opening concert of the previous musical year was by Yevgeny Sudbin, the young Russian hailed by the Daily Telegraph as one of the greatest pianists of the 21^st. Century. Among other great concerts was that given by the vivacious and bouncy Russian pianist Katya Apekesheva to celebrate the beginning of the Centro Cultural’s 30^th. Anniversary.

Then came one of the highlights of the Amigos’ musical year.  The world famous pianist Piers Lane and the renowned clarinettist Michael Collins gave two superb concerts.  Michael Collins is now the Principal Conductor of the City of London Sinfonia. Soon after the very much in demand Chinese pianist Sa Chen flew in from Beijing via Vienna to give two amazing concerts.

In June the Amigos had a Latin American themed dinner to celebrate the Centro Cultural’s 30^th. anniversary.  It was a splendid evening complete with tango dancers and exquisite cocktails, food and wine catered superbly by Annelies Ruegebrink. To round out the musical year in June 2010 violinist Jeroen de Groot and pianist Bart van den Roer gave two wonderful concerts.

Following Barry Shaw’s report it was the turn of Michael Savage, the Hon. Treasurer to present the accounts which were approved by the members present.

One of the highlights of AMIGO’s AGMs is for the person being sponsored by the AMIGOS and Mundo Crastino Meliori to give a concert. Last year Joanna Ballmann, the young Portuguese pianist, who had been sponsored for the past 4 years at the Conservatory in Cologne, gave a wonderful final concert. She graduated soon afterwards and may be off to Brazil to further her professional career.

Ana Beatriz Ferreira is being sponsored for 3 years to study at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London.  Born in 1991, Ana Beatriz graduated from the National Conservatory in Lisbon in 2009, finishing her piano studies with the top classification. After completing her studies at the Escola Superior de Musica de Lisboa she was admitted to the RCM. Ana Beatriz together with her RCM teacher, Prof. Ruth Nye, had chosen to present a program by Mozart and Liszt. Ana Beatriz gave an introduction to her program and then proceeded to deliver these difficult and demanding pieces with great feeling and assurance.

Following Ana Beatriz’s concert the AMIGOS present were treated a sumptuous supper by Marie Huber and her team at the Centro Cultural.

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR’S CONCERTS. CLASSICAL PORTUGUESE GUITAR – MIGUEL DRAGO & PEDRO FRIAO.  THESE WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28^th., 2011 & WEDNESDAY JANUARY 4^th., 2012. EVERYBODY IS WELCOME.

For more information about the 2011/2012 concert program visit the AMIGO’s website www.amigos-de-musica.org or www.centroculturalsaolourenco.com

Call Cristina at 289395475 to make concert bookings.

ABOUT THE AMIGOS AND THE CENTRO CULTURAL

The Centro Cultural is located next to the historic Church of São Lourenço, near Almancil, and holds regular exhibitions by well known artists and sculptors. The AMIGOS is an international group of around 110 members who support the musical activities at the Centro Cultural by underwriting the concerts which are regularly performed there. Concerts at the Centro Cultural begin at 7.30pm sharp.  Wine and lemonade is served from 7.00pm.  During the interval wine and canapés are served. Entry is €25 for guests and non-members.   For membership enquiries please contact Margaret Jackson, AMIGOS’ secretary at jackson.algarve@mail.telepac.pt

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After the Annual General Meeting

on Friday, 18th November, 2011

at 6.30 pm at the Centro Cultural de São Lourenço,

you are invited by

Marie Huber and her Team

to our traditional

AAMSL Young Musician’s Gala

followed by Supper

DRINKS WILL BE SERVED AFTER THE AGM

 THE  GALA CONCERT AT 8 O’CLOCK WILL GIVE ALL AMIGOS ANOTHER  OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR OUR SPONSORED PIANIST 

ANA BEATRIZ FERREIRA

”””””””””””””””’

This event is exclusively for the Amigos de Mùsica

 There is no charge but it is important to 

RSVP

Please remember to e-mail the Centro Cultural <ccsl@iol.pt> to make your reservation or call:

  289 395 475

NB. While we would like you to come to the AGM, you are very welcome to attend only the concert and supper. Please RSVP to confirm  

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