António Pinho Vargas

António Pinho Vargas (born Vila Nova de Gaia, August 15, 1951) is a Portuguese composer and pianist specialized in the performance and writing of Jazz and contemporary music. He has also written books, essays and articles on the subject of music.

Having obtained a degree in history at the University of Porto, he later proceeded to study music at the Rotterdam Conservatory (from 1987 until 1990) where he graduated in Musical Composition. He has been teaching Music Composition at the Escola Superior de Música in Lisbon since 1991.

Early in his career he became a leading name in Portuguese Jazz, where one could already often hear the influence of contemporary music. He recorded seven albums in his Jazz style, the first being Outros Lugares (1983). He also wrote seven soundtracks for Portuguese films and two theatrical plays.

Since his return from the Netherlands he has mainly been a classical composer, having written three operas, several orchestral and ensemble pieces, and also works recorded by the Arditti Quartet, the Galliard Ensemble, the Royal Scottish Academy Brass and the Northern Sinfonia, among others. The most recent CD with his works Requiem (2012) and Judas (2002) was released in October 2014 at Naxos.

Albums

List of works

Ensemble

for Violoncello and Large Ensemble alto fl, ob, cl, bcl, fg, tp, cor, tbn, 3 perc., pf, Cello Solo, 6 vln, 2 vla, 2 vlc, 2 cb; Duration: 27' Commissioned by: Casa da Música / Porto 2001 First Performance: Anssi Karttunen (violoncello) and Remix Ensemble, dir: Frank Ollu, Porto, 2005 | critic |

for Ensemble fl; ob; cl; bcl, fg; 2 perc; pf; vl I; vl II; vla; vlc; cb; Duration: 12 ' Commissioned by: Fundação Oriente First Performance: OchestrUtópica, dir. Yu- Feng, Lisboa, 2003

for 12 instruments fl; ob; cl, cor; fg;; pf; perc; vln I ; vl II; vla; vlc; cb Duration: 10' Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste Gulbenkian First Performance: Ensemble Nuova Sincronia, dir. Renato Rivolta, Lisboa and Milano, 1997 | record |

for 10 instruments fl, cl1, cl/clb, fg/cfg, tp, cr, tbn, pf, vln, vlc, Duration: 17' Commissioned by: Professional School of Music - Almada First Performance: Soloists from Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, Lisboa | record |

for 10 instruments fl; cl; c.i.clb; vib/mar; cel/pf vln I vla; vlc; cb Duration: 12' Commissioned by: First Performance: Performance: Ensemble RC, dir. Arie Van Beck, Ammsterdam

for Opus Ensemble (withdrawn) ob/c.i.,vla, cb, pf. Duration: 12' Commissioned by: RTP First Performance: Soloists from Rotterdam's Conservatorium, Amsterdam (withdrawn for rev.)

for ensemble (10 instruments) fl; ob; cl; v; va; vc; pf; perc Duration: 10' Commissioned by: First Performance: Oficina Musical, dir. Álvaro Salazar, 1987

Orchestra

para Orquestra Commissioned by Orquestra Clássica do Sul First Performance July-August 2014

(2.2.2.2-4.2.2.1-Timp. 1/2 perc .hp.- 8.8.6.6.5.) Duration:12' Commissioned by: Guimarães Capital Europeia da Cultura. First Performance: Orq. Estúdio Guimarães, dir. Rui Massena, Outubro2012, Auditório do CC Vila Flor.

for Orchestra, 3 narrators prerecorded and electronics Commissioned by Casa da Música, Centro Cultural de Belém e Teatro de São Carlos, for the composers's 60 birthday First Performance: OS CdM, dir. Christopher Konig, 1-10- 11, Second performance: OSP, dir. Diego Masson, 17 - 1 -12,

for orchestra (Strings 3 vlns 2 vlas, 3 vlc, 1cb e harpsichord) Duration: 12 ' Commissioned by: Centro Cultural de Belém First Performance: Orq. Metropolitana de Lisboa, dir. MICHAEL ZILM, Abril 2009 Grande Auditório do CCB

for speaker and orchestra (2.2.2.2- 2.2.2.-1 perc, .hp.-6.6.4.4.2) Duration: 12 ' Commissioned by: Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. MICHAEL ZILM, Dezembro 2007 Pequeno Auditório do CCB

for large orchestra (3.3.3.1.3.1- 6.3.3.1-5 perc. pf.hp.-16.14.12.10.8) Duration: 25 ' Commissioned by: Teatro Nacional de São Carlos First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. LOTHAR KÖNIGS, Março 2006, Grande Auditório do CCB | critic |

for orchestra and percussion obligato (2.2.2.2. - 0.2.0.2. -1perc) (10.8.6.5.4) Duration: 8 ' Commissioned by: Teatro Nacional de S. Carlos First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa dir. Donato Renzentti, Lisboa, 2004 | opinion |

for piano solo and orchestra (2.2.2.2 - 4.2.0.0. - 2 perc- 14.12.10.6.5) Duration: 18 ' Commissioned by: International Music Festival of Coimbra First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Yu Feng; piano: Anne Kaasa, Coimbra, 2004 (withdrawn for rev.)

for string orchestra (8.6.6.6.5) Duration: 15' Commissioned by: First Performance: Orq. Nacional do Porto, dir. Cesário Costa, V.N. Gaia

for orchestra (2.2.2.2 - 4.2.0.0. 1 perc); (14.12.10.6.5) Duration: 20 ' Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste Gulbenkian First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michael Zilm, Lisboa, 2001

for piano, percussion and orchestra (2. 2. 2. 1. 2 - 2. 2. 2. 2. 1. 2 perc); strings A (6.6.4.4.3); strings B (6.6.4.4.3) Duration: 19 ' Commissioned by: Teatro Nacional de São Carlos http://www.mic.pt/ First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. António Saiote. Piano: Miguel Henriques, Percussion: Elizabeth Davies, Lisboa, 1998 | critic |

for orchestra and jazz trio Duration: 20 ' Commissioned by: Comissão Portuguesa dos Descobrimentos First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michel Swiertchevisky, Lisboa.

GEOMETRAL (1988–2000) (withdrawn for rev.) for Orchestra (27 instruments) Duration: 20 ' Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste Gulbenkian First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michel Tabachnik, Lisboa, 1989

Chamber music

for string quartet and piano Duration: 9' Commissioned by: Síntese, GMCG First Performance: (14-11-2013)

version for flute and piano Duration: 9' Commissioned by: Luís Meireles 2010 First Performance: (5-1-2013)

for String Quartet Commissioned by Instituto Superior Técnico de Lisboa First performance: Quarteto de Cordas de Matosinhos at IST, July 2012

for violin and piano Duration: 10' Commissioned by: Centro Cultural de Belém First Performance: 29-5-2011

for clarinet and piano Duration: 9' Commissioned by: António Saiote 2010 First Performance: (2012)

for Sond'art Ensemble (fl, cl, ln, vlc, pno) Duration: 1' Commissioned by: para os 25 anos do MisoMusic Portugal - 2010 First Performance: 14 April 2010, Instituto Franco-Português

for String Quartet Duration: 11' Commissioned by: XXX Festival Internacional de Música da Povoa de Varzim First Performance: Quarteto Verazin, Póvoa de Varzim, 2008

for 2 violins (2.2.2.2. - 0.2.0.2. -1perc) (10.8.6.5.4) Duration: 6 ' Commissioned by: Movimentos Perpétuos First Performance: Aníbal Lima e Pedro Pacheco, Lisboa, 2003 | record |

for 6 perdussionists (2.2.2.2. - 0.2.0.2. -1perc) (10.8.6.5.4) Duration: 6 ' Commissioned by: Drumming First Performance: Drumming, dir. Miguel Bernat, 2002 | critic |

for 2 pianos Duration: 15 ' Commissioned by: First Performance: Miguel Henriques, Ana Valente, Lisboa, 2001 | critic |

for 2 trumpets or 2 recorders Duration: 6 ' Commissioned by: International Music Festival of Mafra First Performance: John Wallace, John Miller, Mafra, 2001 | record | | critic |

for clarinet trio Duration: 15 ' Commissioned by: First Performance: Cl: António Saiote, Vlc: Jed Barahal, Pf: António Rosado, Póvoa de Varzim, 2001 | critic | record |

for barítone and piano Duration: 18' Commissioned by: First Performance: Paulo Ferreira, Jaime Mota, Porto, 2000 | critic | record |

for 6 percussionists Duration: 25' Commissioned by: First Performance: Drumming, dir. Miguel Bernat, Lisboa, 2000 | critic |

for 4 instruments Duration: 10' Commissioned by: "Sven for Parlor" First Performance: "Sven for Parlor", Athens, 1997

for voice e piano Duration: 25' Commissioned by: Encontros Primavera de Guimarães First Performance: Rui Taveira, Jaime Mota, Guimarães, 1995 | critic | record |

for string sextet Duration: 8' Commissioned by: Câmara Municipal do Porto First Performance: Sextuor L'Artois de Lille, Porto, 1994 | record |

for string quartet Duration: 15' Commissioned by: Câmara Municipal do Porto para as Jornadas de Arte Contemporânea de 1993 http://www.mic.pt/ First Performance: Ensemble MusikFabrik, Porto, 1993 | critic | record 1 | record 2 |

for string orchestra (8,6,6,4,4) Duration: 6' Commissioned by: Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa First Performance: Orq. Metropolitana de Lisboa, dir. Miguel Graça Moura, Lisboa, 1992

for flute and string quartet Duration: 6' Commissioned by: Oficina Musical First Performance: Oficina Musical, dir. Álvaro Salazar, Porto, 1990 | record |

for saxophone quartet alto/soprano; alto; tenor; baritone Duration: 8' Commissioned by: First Performance: Quarteto de Saxofones de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1989

for flute and clarinet alto/soprano; alto; tenor; baritone Duration: 6' Commissioned by: Oficina Musical First Performance: Eduardo Lucena, Américo Aguiar (Oficina Musical), Porto, 1984 (withdrawn for rev.)

Opera, Oratoria

Choir a cappella Commissioned by Paulo Lourenço First performance: May 2014

Choir and Orchestra Commissioned by Culturgest First performance: Choir and Orchestra Gulbenkian, dir. Cesário Costa, 11/12 Oct. 2013

Choir and Orchestra Duration: 30' Commissioned by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian First performance: Choir and Orchestra Gulbenkian, dir. Joana Carneiro, 21/22 Nov. 2012

chamber opera 5 singers; fl; ob; cl; Bcl; fg/cf; 2hn; tbn; 2 perc; pf; 3 vl I;3 vl II;2 vla;2 vln;2 cb; Libreto: José Maria Vieira Mendes Duration: 1h 30' Commissioned by: Culturgest First Performance: Sónia Alcobaça, Luís Rodrigues, Larissa Savchanko, Mário Alves, Madalena Boleo Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir.Cesário Costa, Lisboa, 2008

chamber opera 3 singers; fl; ob; cl; Bcl; fg; tp; hn; tbn; 2 perc; harp; pf; vl I; vl II; vla; vln; cb; Electronics by Carlos Caires and Antonio Pinho Vargas Libreto: Paulo Tunhas Duration: 32' Commissioned by: Casa da Música First Performance: Eduarda Melo, Matthew Bean, Ivan Ludlow Remix Ensemble, dir. Franck Ollu, Lisboa, 1996 | critic |

for choir and orchestra Large Choir; (2.2.2.2.4.2.2.0. 1 perc); (12.10.8.8.6) Duration: 30' Commissioned by: Festival de Música Sacra de Viana do Castelo First Performance: Choir and Orq. Gulbenkian dir. Fernando Eldoro, 2002 | critic |

opera 8 singers; Large Choir; (2.2.3.2 - 2.0.2.2 - 3 perc) ; Strings Libretto: Manuel Gusmão Duration: 105' Commissioned by: Expo'98 First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, Choir from Teatro Nacional de S. Carlos, dir. João Paulo Santos, Lisboa, 1998 | critic | record critics | record |

opera 4 singers; 32 choir; fl;fg; cl; ob; tp; tbn; 2 perc pf; vl I; vl II; vla; vln; cb; Libretto: Pedro Paixão Duration: 64' Commissioned by: Culturgest First Performance: Soilists from Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, Choir from Teatro Nacional de S. Carlos, dir. João Paulo Santos, Lisboa, 1996

opera for 4 mixed choir Duration: 5' Commissioned by: First Performance: Coro de Câmara de Lisboa, dir. Teresita Gutierrez Marques, Lisboa, 1994 | record |

Solo

!Title !!Year !!Instrument !!Duration !!Published by !!Commissioned by !!1st performance

for Vibrafone Solo || 6' || Auditório da Academia de Música de Espinho || Miquel Bernat, 2011

for Cello Solo || 12' || Conservatório de Música das Caldas de Rainha || Nuno Abreu, Caldas de Rainha, 2008

for harpsichord ||14' ||International Music Festival of Mafra ||Instituto Camões, 2003 ||Ana Mafalda Castro, Mafra (withdrawn for rev.)

||for piano ||26' ||International Music Festival of Coimbra ||Partituras PortugalSom; www.dgartes.pt ||Miguel Henriques, Coimbra.

LA LUNA (1996) ||for guitar ||3' ||Cecilia Colien Honneger ||Cecilia Colien Honneger Album; http://www.editions-ava.com/store/category/88/ ||Gabriel Estrahellas, Madrid.

||for piano ||9' ||Secretaria de Estado da Cultura ||Musicoteca, 1994; Portuguese Music Information Centre http://www.mic.pt/ ||Paul Prenen, Amsterdam, 1990.

||for clarinet solo ||5' ||Oficina Musical, 1995 ||António Saiote, Lisboa.

||for flute solo ||4' ||Calouste Gulbenkian School of Braga ||-- ||Olavo Tengner, Jorge Salgado, Braga, (withdrawn for rev.).

Film music

Directed by João Botelho

Directed by José Fonseca e Costa

References

    External links