Desperatio (piano piece no. 5) (2017-18) is a miniature by Patrícia Sucena de Almeida integrated in the recital of the British pianist Ian Pace, organized on the occasion of his 50th anniversary. The concert will take place on April 20 at the City, University of London. This programme, Ian Pace at Fifty - Tributes and Early Modernism, includes works by composers from the beginning of the 20th century (Frederic Mompou and Roger Sessions, among others) and various piano miniatures by contemporary creators, written to celebrate Ian Pace’s anniversary. In total they are 18 world premieres of pieces collected by the American composer Evan Johnson, including the miniature by Patrícia Sucena de Almeida. In her creative approach this composer published by the MIC.PT - who is also photographer - privileges multidisciplinary projects. It is also in this context that Patrícia Sucena de Almeida has had various opportunities to work with Ian Pace - a versatile pianist, whose repertoire is based on new music, within a strategy of hybrid programmes with historical music pieces.

Until May 12 it is possible to visit at the National Library of Portugal in Lisbon the Exhibition O Agora… é tudo o que temos (The Present… is all we have) dedicated to Constança Capdeville (1937-1992), composer published by the MIC.PT. This evocative Exhibition is constituted of scores, performance scripts, notes and many other documents from the assets of this unique figure within the Portuguese music environment. Having been donated to the National Library of Portugal by Manuel Cintra, these documents have integrated its collection since September 2012. Constança Capdeville’s innovative spirit as composer, performer and teacher was reflected not only in her conception of materials used for musical creation and in the function she gave to the concert as a participative event, but also in the way she approached her role as pedagogue and teacher. This singular approach influenced her students, some of whom are today recognized composers - António de Sousa Dias, Eurico Carrapatoso, Sérgio Azevedo, Tomás Henriques or Virgílio Melo, among many others.

The audiovisual work Tesseract (2017) by João Pedro Oliveira, commissioned by the Mixtur 2018 Festival, will be premiered in the context of this event, taking place between April 19 and 29 in Barcelona. In the context of Mixtur 2018 this composer published by the MIC.PT will be also giving a masterclass in composition. Another audiovisual work by João Pedro Oliveira - Neshamah (2016) - will be presented at the Sonorities Festival Belfast on April 22; it has also been included in the official selection of the Five Continents International Film Festival in Venezuela, in the Fiction Short Film category. Additionally, João Pedro Oliveira - artist focused on the interaction between instrumental and electroacoustic music, and on the image synthesis by means of techniques used in electroacoustic music creation - will participate in the SIME 2018 Festival (Semaine Internationale de la Musique Electroacoustique) in Lille (France), where his acousmatic work Hydatos (2008) will be presented on April 24.

The premiere of music by Fernando C. Lapa, composer published by the MIC.PT, for the theatre pieces by Gil Vicente (c. 1465 - c. 1536) - Auto da Barca do Inferno, Auto da Barca do Purgatório and Auto da Barca da Glória - will take place in the context of the Music Days at the Belém Art Centre in Lisbon, on April 27, 28 and 29, respectively. Sara Barros Leitão is the actress responsible for the conception of these spectacles and as she says: “here (…) the text and the music are joined in the most harmonious expressive channel. More than looking for the contemporary aspects in this work, since it is inevitable that it «actuates» also in our times (…), we want to discover a different way of communicating it”. The performances of Gil Vicente’s triptych at the Music Days in Belém also include the participation of João Castro (actor) and the Toy Ensemble - Jed Barahal (cello), David Lloyd (viola and violin), Ricardo Alves (clarinet and bass clarinet), Magna Ferreira (voice and percussion) and Christina Margotto (piano).

Lullabies for a Troubled World is the title of the new digital album by António Ferreira (TóZé Ferreira), released on March 7 by Plancton Music. Lullabies for a Troubled World includes 7 electroacoustic/acousmatic works by this composer published by the MIC.PT: Intro, Glimpses of DPROK, Shovel_Atom, Aeon, Lost Future, The prose at the end of the year and Untimely Presence. In the interview given to the MIC.PT in October 2013, and published in the MIC.PT Dossier no. 3, António Ferreira says about his own work: “Electroacoustic composition demands time and patience - just as every composition, yet with one difference: the «instruments», gestures and actions need to be constructed from scratch. There is no separation of tasks between performers, with their knowledge, and composers, who transcribe this knowledge into “normalized” instructions in the score”. The album Lullabies for a Troubled World is available at the Bandcamp platform.

On April 9 in the morning on the RTP - Antena 2, Paulo Alves Guerra, journalist and author of the radio programme Império dos Sentidos, will be interviewing Cândido Lima, composer published by the MIC.PT, pianist, teacher, philosopher and essayist. Cândido Lima is one of the most prominent figures on the Portuguese music scene. His rich curriculum includes Philosophy and Humanistic Studies in Braga, and degrees in Aesthetics and Musical Arts obtained in Paris, where he studied with Iannis Xenakis, composer with whom he has maintained close contact. “...my circumstance has always meant working outside of the centres of decision (…). So I’ve got used to being free since quite early…” - says Cândido Lima in the interview for the MIC.PT (December 2013). Being one of the first Portuguese composers to introduce computer and electronic synthesis to music, Cândido Lima’s aim is to achieve a synthesis of different influences resulting in “fusion music”, a kind of blend of various cultures and systems.

Carlos Caires, composer published by the MIC.PT, is author of the music for the experimental animation 4 Estados da Matéria (4 States of the Matter) by Miguel Pires de Matos. The film’s world before premiere presentation took place on March 8 at the São Jorge Cinema, in the framework of the opening session of the Mostra - Festival of Animation in Lisbon. The main theme of this abstract animation, developed in four acts or movements, is the “matter”. Every act/movement is formed by a distinct graphic and sonic environment, to construct a journey through the four main states of the matter: solid, liquid, gaseous and plasma. Each of these parts has three coexisting conceptual dimensions, corresponding to three different areas of human knowledge: science, art and religion. These three sub-themes are the sources of inspiration defining the abstract forms and sounds, as well as the movements and rhythms that constitute the film’s animated sequences.

The Portuguese premiere of Song for Emma, op. 75, for horn and piano by Ricardo Matosinhos (dedicated to the Australian composer and horn player Emma Gregan) will take place on April 13, with Ricardo Matosinhos (horn) and Isolde Rubio (piano), at the Óscar da Silva Music School (Matosinhos). The programme of this recital also includes the world premiere of two works - Abide with me by Kerry Turner and Rose-Coloured Glasses by Emma Gregan, work written for Ricardo Matosinhos, horn player, pedagogue and composer published by the MIC.PT; and also Canciones para Trompa e Piano by Paul Blaser. This event is integrated in the research project presently developed by this artist, and which includes the premieres of various works for horn, written by composers and horn players. As Ricardo Matosinhos describes his new work: "Song for Emma begins with a mysterious introduction based on retracted glissandos in bouché sound, an effect rarely used by horn players…”

José Mesquita Lopes, composer published by the MIC.PT and guitarist, is artistic director of the 9th International Guitar Festival of Leiria, in the context of which various initiatives will be taking place - the 9th National Guitar Competition (May 19-20) and the 13th International Guitar Competition (May 20); and also - the 8th Guitar Orchestra Internship (June 2 and 3) and the 8th Meeting of Guitar Orchestras and Ensembles (June 3 and 10). The registration for the events is open until: May 8 (National Competition), May 11 (International Competition), May 25 (Internship and Meeting). With various degrees obtained at Portuguese Music Schools - ESML and AAM in Lisbon - José Mesquita Lopes has been distinguished at various composition, guitar, international and national competitions. Supervisor and jury member in the context of various Master’s and PhD theses and at guitar competitions, he is professor at the Orfeão de Leiria Art Conservatoire and at the D. Dinis Music Conservatoire in Odivelas.

The 60th edition of the DME Festival will take place between April 4 and 7 in Lisbon and Seia. The opening concert of this event (April 4 at the Lisboa Incomum Space) is dedicated to the music of the late José Luís Ferreira (1973-2018), composer published by the MIC.PT. The programme of this concert includes the performance by Belquior Guerrero of José Luís Ferreira’s piece for guitar and electronics - I stole a bar from Leo (2010); as well as various acousmatic pieces by this composer - Le bruit d’une tete qui... (2000), Le bruit d’une porte qui... (2004) e Trópicos (2009). The work I stole a bar from Leo will be again performed by Belquior Guerrero at the DME 60 on April 6 in Seia, during the concert whose first part will be protagonized by the Guitar Orchestra of the Music Conservatoire in Seia. The programme of this Festival, whose artistic director is Jaime Reis (composer publisehd by the MIC.PT), also includes a conference by Rita Torres on guitar multiphonics (April 5, Music Conservatoire in Seia), and a concert by Abdul Moimême (prepared guitar) and Patrick Brennan (saxophone) at the Lisboa Incomum Space (April 7). The 60th edition of the DME Festival also includes the participation of the composer Åke Parmerud - the event’s final concert on April 7 at the Municipal Arts House - Music Conservatoire in Seia is dedicated entirely to his music.

Works by two composers published by the MIC.PT - the world premiere of aproximações (2017) for guitar ensemble and two adufes by Sofia Sousa Rocha and Canções tradicionais transmontanas (2016), version for guitar orchestra, by Fernando C. Lapa - will be presented on April 8 at the José Sarmento Auditorium (Cultural Market of Carandá) in Braga (Portugal). The programme of this concert - performed by the Plucked String Orchestra of Minho, Helena Pereira and Beatriz Martinho (percussion), and with the musical direction of Rui Gama - also includes pieces by Antonio Vivaldi and Roland Dyens. The creation of the Plucked String Orchestra of Minho has in its base the idea of associating instruments from the same chordophone family. Some of them have ancestral and cultural roots highly pronounced and recognized in the Minho region, namely: the guitar, the viola braguesa, the cavaquinho and the Portuguese guitar, among others.

With the artistic direction of José Carlos Sousa - composer published by the MIC.PT - this year the FIMP will inaugurate on April 6 and it will be taking place until the end of the month. The event’s organizers aim is to bring to the city of Viseu (northern Portugal) internationally renowned musicians, being the sensibilization, fruition and musical creation the main pillars of this music feast. It is in this sense that every year the Festival’s programme is created. Its 11th edition encompasses music by Portuguese Composers, many of them published by the MIC.PT: Sara Carvalho with the piece … when I waked, I cried to dream again performed by Carlos Canhoto (saxophone); Amílcar Vasques-Dias with two premieres - Bailações sob a olaia by Carlos Canhoto and FLOR-MEDRONHO by Monika Streitová (flute) and Pedro Rodrigues (guitar); Fernando C. Lapa with the work Canções Populares Transmontanas by the 5G5C - Portugal Guitar Quintet; Eduardo Luís Patriarca with two pieces - Kwatz! and Para uma voz sem acompanhamento, versão a8 - by Carlos Canhoto; Jaime Reis with two premieres - Inverso Sangue - Âmbar B by Carlos Canhoto and Sândalo. Prata. by Monika Streitová and Pedro Rodrigues - as well as Fluxus, Dimensionless Sound (B) performed by the same musicians; Igor C. Silva with the piece Gin#122 by Mário Teixeira (percussion); and also José Carlos Sousa with three works - premiere of Solilóquio I by Carlos Canhoto, premiere of Reflexo das Sombras by Monika Streitová and Pedro Rodrigues, and alliveS by the latter guitarist. The FIMP’s programme also includes masterclasses, workshops and music by: Anne Victorino d’Almeida, Sérgio Azevedo, Paulo Amorim, Mário Laginha, Jorge Prendas and Diogo Silva, among many other composers form the world over. As in the previous editions there are two competitions associated to FIMP: the 3rd International Guitar Competition and the 2nd International Piano Competition of Viseu.

This month - on April 19 and 20 in Amsterdam and Utrecht, in the context of the Q-art Festival 2018 - the pianist Joana Gama will make a new tour with the the recitals Viagens na Minha Terra (Travels in my Homeland), which include in their programme the work for piano Lume de Chão (2003/04) by Amílcar Vasques-Dias, composer published by the MIC.PT. Apart from this cycle composed of 13 short pieces, the recitals’ programme also consists of the cycle Viagens na Minha Terra (1969) by Fernando Lopes-Graça. Also this month - on April 16 and 17 at the Museum Feast in Leiria and at the Casa da Música in Porto - Joana Gama will also perform her recital I Love Satie. Apart from music by Erik Satie, Marco Franco, Federico Mompou, Morton Feldman and John Cage, this programme includes the piece What time is it? (1996) by Vítor Rua - composer published by the MIC.PT. Other Joana Gama's April concerts are - Eu gosto muito do Senhor Satie in the context of the project Cultura em Expansão of the Porto Municipality (April 7); Aniversário de Federico Mompou com Marco Franco, Tiago Sousa and Steven Gillion, in the context of the Magasessions project in Lisbon (April 15); and also at the still point of the turning world with Luís Fernandes (electronics) and the musicians from the Calouste Gulbenkian Music Conservatoire in Braga (April 14, Theatro Circo, Braga).

Between April 4 and 14 the percussionist Nuno Aroso is making a tour in the United States - Denton, Chicago and New York - during which he will give concerts, whose programme includes music by Portuguese composers published by the MIC.PT - Vox Sum Vitae (2011) for vibraphone and electronics by João Pedro Oliveira and Música para 30 Metais (2012) for 30 different metal cymbals and electronics by Luís Antunes Pena. In this context Nuno Aroso will also present two premieres - the premiere of the revised version of the piece Solo I by Dimitris Andrikopoulos, and the world premiere of Cymatics by Panayiotis Kokoras. Also this month - on April 28 at the Centre Cultural Papa Calixte III (Canals, València, Spain) - Nuno Aroso will present a programme with works by Luís Antunes Pena (Três Quadros Sobre Pedra), Dimitris Andrikopoulos (Solo I), João Pedro Oliveira (Vox Sum Vitae), Lei Liang (Trans) and Pedro Junqueira Maia (´Xcuse me While I kiss the Sky).

The project Agora Muda Tudo by Nuno Côrte-Real (music), José Luís Peixoto (text), with the participation of Maria João (voice) and the Ensemble Darcos, is winner of the SPA Authors 2018 Award in the category Music - Best Classical Music Work. The awards ceremony of all the categories, broadcast by the RTP 2, took place on March 20 at the Belém Arts Centre in Lisbon. Agora Muda Tudo is a song cycle, whose identity has been created from the meeting between Portuguese author, on the crossing between distinct artistic areas and styles. This project was created in the framework of the 10th anniversary of the Darcos Concert Season, where Nuno Côrte-Real is artistic director. It was premiered last year in Torres Vedras. The two other projects nominated for the SPA 2018 Authors Award in the same category were: In Tempore by João Pedro Oliveira (album Ouver: Diálogos Interartes) and Metamorphosis and Resonances by Hugo Vasco Reis.