António Pinho Vargas
Encyclopedia
António Pinho Vargas is a Portuguese
composer and pianist specialized in the performance and writing of Jazz
and as well as Contemporary Music.
He is also a literary author having 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) were he graduated in Musical Composition.
He is currently teaching Music Composition at the 'Escola Superior de Música' in Lisbon, and has been doing so 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 unique Jazz style, the first being - Outros Lugares (1983). He also wrote seven soundtracks for Portuguese films and two theatrical plays.
Since his return from Holland he has mainly been a Classical composer, having written three Operas, several orchestral and ensemble pieces, and also works recorded by: the Arditti String Quartet, the Galliard Ensemble, the Royal Scottish Academy Brass and The Northern Sinfonia among others.
(near Oporto) in 1951. He has a History degree, and obtained the final degree for Piano studies from the Oporto Conservatory. He went abroad to study for three years under the guidance of composer - Klaas de Vries at the Rotterdam Conservatory with a scholarship from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. He there obtained his degree in Composition in 1990. He was awarded The Order of Prince Henry the Navigator (a Portuguese National Order of Knighthood - "Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique") by the President of the Portuguese Republic in 1995. He now teaches Composition at "Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa" and has done so since 1991. He had also attended composition courses, workshops and seminars in Portugal (with Emanuel Nunes), in the Netherlands (with John Cage and Louis Andriessen), in Hungary (with Gyorgy Ligeti), and in Italy (with Franco Donatoni). He worked as music consultant for the Serralves Foundation in Oporto (between 1994 and 2000), and for the "Centro Cultural de Belém" in Lisbon (from 1996 to 1998). In 2010 he completed his PhD with the thesis 'Music and Power: towards a sociology of the absence of portuguese music in the european context at the University of Coimbra, published by Almedina in 2011.
He began to play Jazz in 1974 with, among others, the following musicians: Kenny Wheeler, Steve Potts ,Paolo Fresu, Arild Andersen, Jon Christensen, Adam Rudolph, among others.
With his jazz group, he performed throughout Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, the former Yugoslavia, USA, Cape Verde, South Africa and Macao.
Some of António Pinho Vargas's recorded work is the following (some of his early recordings): Outros Lugares (1983), Cores e Aromas (1985), As Folhas Novas Mudam de Cor (1987), Os Jogos do Mundo (1989), Selos e Borboletas (1991), A Luz e a Escuridão (1996) and the best-of As Mãos (1998).
He was awarded three times with the "Sete de Ouro", the Portuguese journalistic prize for 'Best Instrumental Record of the Year'. António P. Vargas composes for the theatre as well as for cinema, having written work for João Botelho’s movies Tempos Difíceis – Hard Times (1988) (receiving an I.P.C. Award for Best Soundtrack),
and Aqui na Terra – Here On Earth (1993). He also composed soundtracks for José Fonseca e Costa’s movie Cinco Dias, Cinco Noites – Five Days, Five Nights (1996) (awarded Best Soundtrack at the Gramado Movie Festival, in Brasil), João Botelho’s film Quem és tu? – Who Are You? (2001), and O Fascínio (2003), a José Fonseca e Costa film. He also composed for Carlos Avilez's staging of William Shakespeare's Hamlet (1987) and Richard II (1995).
Since his years in Holland, António Pinho Vargas has composed Contemporary Music for the most part, having reached a prominent place in the Portuguese music scenario. He has had his work performed in France, Germany, Holand, Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Spain, Brasil, United Kingdom and USA. His compositions have been commissioned and/or sponsored by institutions such as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Culturgest, Lisbon 1994 – European Culture Capital, Expo’98, Teatro Nacional de S. Carlos, and Porto’2001 – European Culture Capital.
In António Pinho Vargas’s work there are compositions for ensemble and solo instruments such as Mirrors (for piano solo, first performed in Amsterdam, 1990, by Paul Prenen and later performed by Ronald Brautigam, Madalena Soveral, Francisco Monteiro, Tania Achot, Gloria Chen-Chocran, Volker Banfield and Miguel Henriques among others), Três Versos de Caeiro (Ensemble Nuova Sincronia, Northern Sinfonia, OrchestrUtopica, Remix Ensemble). There are also compositions for orchestra: Acting Out, (under the direction of António Saiote, J.R. Encinar , Martin André), A Impaciência de Mahler(under direction by Michael Zilm, Martin André), and compositions for choir with orchestra. The following are some examples: Judas secundum Lucam, Joannem, Matthaeum et Marco, (under Fernando Eldoro). He also wrote the following operas: Édipo, Tragédia de Saber and Os Dias Levantados (under the direction of João Paulo Santos).
The premiere of Six Portraits of Pain for cello and large ensemble was held in April 2005 (Anssi Karttunen / cello and Remix Ensemble conducted by Frank Ollu) for the opening of the music hall Casa da Música in Oporto.
He attended Other Minds V Festival, a festival organized by Charles Amirkhanian in S.Francisco (USA), in March 1999. He also attended the International Music Theatre Workshop at the "Oper am Rhein" in Düsseldorf, for a video presentation of Os Dias Levantados. In 2001 he went to the Bellagio Study and Conference Center in Italy, having received a grant (scholarship) from the Rockefeller Foundation.
The CD Monodia, was produced in 1995 by EMI Classics and sponsored by Lisbon’94 - European Culture Capital.
The piece for string quartet Monodia-quasi un requiem was performed in 1998 by the Artis Quartet of Wien. It is included in the Portuguese Chamber Music CD, performed by the Arditti String Quartet (Etcetera Records). The CD Versos was sponsored by IPAE and produced in 2001 by Strauss.
In February and March, 2002, Culturgest held a Festival dedicated to António Pinho Vargas’s body of work. Also, a documentary film was made -"António Pinho Vargas, notas de um compositor" – (António Pinho Vargas, the composer’s notes). The film was commissioned by Culturgest, LxFilmes and RTP, and co-directed by Manuel Mozos and Luís Correia.
The composer’s first book, "Sobre Música" (On The Subject of Music), was published by 'Afrontamento' in 2002. It contains seven essays, several texts and interviews. A live recording of the opera Os Dias Levantados was released in 2005 by EMI Classics. António Pinho Vargas was one of the artistic directors for OrchestrUtopica until 2007.
Graffiti [just forms], a work for large orchestra, was premiered in March 2006. It was performed the by the Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa under the direction of Lothar Königs.
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
Published by:
First Performance: Anssi Karttunen (violoncello) and Remix Ensemble, dir: Frank Ollu, Porto, 2005
| critic |
MACHINES FICTIVES (pour Pierrot le fou) (2003)
for Ensemble
fl; ob; cl; bcl, fg; 2 perc; pf; vl I; vl II; vla; vlc; cb;
Duration: 12 '
Commissioned by: Fundação Oriente
Published by:
First Performance: OchestrUtópica, dir. Yu- Feng, Lisboa, 2003
TRÊS VERSOS DE CAEIRO (1997)
for 12 instruments
fl; ob; cl, cor; fg;; pf; perc; vln I ; vl II; vla; vlc; cb
Duration: 10'
Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste Gulbenkian
Published by:
First Performance: Ensemble Nuova Sincronia, dir. Renato Rivolta, Lisboa and Milano, 1997
| record |
TRÊS QUADROS PARA ALMADA (1994)
for 10 instruments
fl, cl1, cl/clb, fg/cfg, tp, cr, tbn, pf, vln, vlc,
Duration: 17'
Commissioned by: Professional School of Music - Almada
Published by:
First Performance: Soloists from Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, Lisboa
| record |
ESTUDO/FIGURA (1990)
for 10 instruments
fl; cl; c.i.clb; vib/mar; cel/pf vln I vla; vlc; cb
Duration: 12'
Commissioned by:
Published by:
First Performance: Performance: Ensemble RC, dir. Arie Van Beck, Ammsterdam
MÚSICA PLANA / MÚSICA CONTRAPLANA (1989)
for Opus Ensemble
ob/c.i.,vla, cb, pf.
Duration: 12'
Commissioned by: RTP
Published by:
First Performance: Soloists from Rotterdam's Conservatorium, Amsterdam
(withdrawn for rev.)
CÍRCULOS (1986)
for ensemble (10 instruments)
fl; ob; cl; v; va; vc; pf; perc
Duration: 10'
Commissioned by:
Published by:
First Performance: Oficina Musical, dir. Álvaro Salazar, 1987
(withdrawn for rev.)
for orchestra
(Strings 3 vlns 2 vlas, 3 vlc, 1cb e harpschord)
Duration: 12 '
Commissioned by: Centro Cultural de Belém
Published by: antónio pinho vargas
First Performance: Orq. Metropolitana de Lisboa, dir. MICHAEL ZILM ,
Abril 2009
Grande Auditório do CCB
UM DISCURSO DE THOMAS BERNHARD (2009)
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
Published by: antónio pinho vargas
First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. MICHAEL ZILM ,
Dezembro 2007
Pequeno Auditório do CCB
GRAFFITI [just forms] (2006)
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
Published by: http://www.editions-ava.com/store/work/8/
First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. LOTHAR KÖNIGS, Março
2006, Grande Auditório do CCB
| critic |
RE-ENTERING (2004)
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
Published by:
First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa dir. Donato Renzentti, Lisboa, 2004
| opinion |
... VON FREMDEN LÄNDLER ... (2004)
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
Published by:
First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Yu Feng; piano: Anne Kaasa, Coimbra, 2004
DUAS PEÇAS (1992–2000)
for string orchestra
(8.6.6.6.5)
Duration: 15'
Commissioned by:
Published by:
First Performance: Orq. Nacional do Porto, dir. Cesário Costa, V.N. Gaia
A IMPACIÊNCIA DE MAHLER (1999)
for orchestra
(2.2.2.2 - 4.2.0.0. 1 perc); (14.12.10.6.5)
Duration: 20 '
Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste Gulbenkian
Published by: Fermata
First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michael Zilm, Lisboa, 2001
ACTING-OUT (1998–2000)
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
Published by: Portuguese Music Information Centre
http://www.mic.pt/
First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. António Saiote.
Piano: Miguel Henriques, Percussion: Elizabeth Davies, Lisboa, 1998
| critic |
EXPLICIT DRAMA (1992)
for orchestra and jazz trio
Duration: 20 '
Commissioned by: Comissão Portuguesa dos Descobrimentos
Published by:
First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michel Swiertchevisky, Lisboa.
(withdrawn for rev.)
GEOMETRAL (1988–2000)
for Orchestra (27 instruments)
Duration: 20 '
Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste Gulbenkian
Published by: Donemus (1989) (rev. version 2001 antónio pinho vargas)
First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michel Tabachnik, Lisboa, 1989
for violin and piano
Duration: 10'
Commissioned by: Centro Cultural de Belém
Published by: antónio pinho vargas
First Performance: 29-5-2011
QUATRO NOVOS FRAGMENTOS (2010)
for clarinet and piano
Duration: 9'
Commissioned by: António Saiote 2010
Published by: antónio pinho vargas
First Performance: (not yet)
ONE MINUTE TO GO (2010)
for Sond'art Ensemble (fl, cl, ln, vlc, pno)
Duration: 1'
Commissioned by: para os 25 anos do MisoMusic Portugal - 2010
Published by: antónio pinho vargas
First Performance: 14 April 2010, Instituto Franco-Português
MOVIMENTOS DO SUBSOLO, QUARTETO DE CORDAS Nº 2 (2008)
for String Quartet
Duration: 11'
Commissioned by: XXX Festival Internacional de Música da Povoa de Varzim
Published by:
First Performance: Quarteto Verazin, Póvoa de Varzim, 2008
DOIS VIOLINOS FOR CARLOS PAREDES (2003)
for 2 violins
(2.2.2.2. - 0.2.0.2. -1perc) (10.8.6.5.4)
Duration: 6 '
Commissioned by: Movimentos Perpétuos
Published by:
First Performance: Aníbal Lima e Pedro Pacheco, Lisboa, 2003
| record |
STEP BY STEP, WOLFS! (2002)
for 6 perdussionists
(2.2.2.2. - 0.2.0.2. -1perc) (10.8.6.5.4)
Duration: 6 '
Commissioned by: Drumming
Published by:
First Performance: Drumming, dir. Miguel Bernat, 2002
| critic |
TRÊS ESTUDOS FOR 2 PIANOS (2000–2001)
for 2 pianos
Duration: 15 '
Commissioned by:
Published by:
First Performance: Miguel Henriques, Ana Valente, Lisboa, 2001
| critic |
TWO FAMILY DISCUSSIONS (2001)
for 2 trumpets
Duration: 6 '
Commissioned by: International Music Festival of Mafra
Published by: Instituto Camões, 2003
First Performance: John Wallace, John Miller, Mafra, 2001
| record | | critic |
QUATRO OU CINCO MOVIMENTOS FUGIDIOS DA ÁGUA (2001)
for clarinet trio
Duration: 15 '
Commissioned by:
Published by: Quantitas, 2003; http://www.eduardopatriarca.com/page10.htm
First Performance: Cl: António Saiote, Vlc: Jed Barahal, Pf: António Rosado, Póvoa de Varzim, 2001
| critic | record |
SETE CANÇÕES DE ALBANO MARTINS (2000)
for barítone and piano
Duration: 18'
Commissioned by:
Published by: Fermata
First Performance: Paulo Ferreira, Jaime Mota, Porto, 2000
| critic | record |
ESTUDOS E INTERLÚDIOS (2000)
for 6 percussionists
Duration: 25'
Commissioned by:
Published by:
First Performance: Drumming, dir. Miguel Bernat, Lisboa, 2000
| critic |
TERCEIRO VERSO DE CAEIRO (1997)
for 4 instruments
Duration: 10'
Commissioned by: "Sven for Parlor"
Published by:
First Performance: "Sven for Parlor", Athens, 1997
NOVE CANÇÕES DE ANTÓNIO RAMOS ROSA (1995)
for voice e piano
Duration: 25'
Commissioned by: Encontros Primavera de Guimarães
Published by: Fermata
First Performance: Rui Taveira, Jaime Mota, Guimarães, 1995
| critic | record |
NOCTURNO/DIURNO (1994)
for string sextet
Duration: 8'
Commissioned by: Câmara Municipal do Porto
Published by:
First Performance: Sextuor L'Artois de Lille, Porto, 1994
| record |
MONODIA - quasi un requiem (1993)
for string quartet
Duration: 15'
Commissioned by: Câmara Municipal do Porto para as Jornadas de Arte Contemporânea de 1993
Published by: Portuguese Music Information Centre
http://www.mic.pt/
First Performance: Ensemble MusikFabrik, Porto, 1993
| critic | record 1 | record 2 |
MECHANICAL STRING TOYS (1992)
for string orchestra
(8,6,6,4,4)
Duration: 6'
Commissioned by: Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
Published by:
First Performance: Orq. Metropolitana de Lisboa,
dir. Miguel Graça Moura, Lisboa, 1992
POETICA DELL ESTINZIONE (secondo mikhal serguieievitch) (1990)
for flute and string quartet
Duration: 6'
Commissioned by: Oficina Musical
Published by:
First Performance: Oficina Musical,
dir. Álvaro Salazar, Porto, 1990
| record |
CUT (1989 / rev.: 2004)
for saxophone quartet
alto/soprano; alto; tenor; baritone
Duration: 8'
Commissioned by:
Published by: http://www.editions-ava.com/store/work/201/
First Performance: Quarteto de Saxofones de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1989
GRAVITAÇÕES (1984)
for flute and clarinet
alto/soprano; alto; tenor; baritone
Duration: 6'
Commissioned by: Oficina Musical
Published by:
First Performance: Eduardo Lucena, Américo Aguiar (Oficina Musical), Porto, 1984
(withdrawn for rev.)
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
Published by: Ava Editions
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
Published by:
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
Published by: http://www.editions-ava.com/store/work/319/
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
Published by:
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
Published by:
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:
Published by:
First Performance: Coro de Câmara de Lisboa,
dir. Teresita Gutierrez Marques, Lisboa, 1994
| record |
"SUITE PARA VIOLONCELO SOLO (2008)"
for Cello Solo || 12' || Conservatório de Música das Caldas de Rainha || Nuno Abreu, Caldas de Rainha, 2008
IL RITORNO (2002)
for harpsichord ||14' ||International Music Festival of Mafra ||Instituto Camões, 2003 ||Ana Mafalda Castro, Mafra
HOLDERLINOS (2001)
||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.
MIRRORS (1989)
||for piano ||9' ||Secretaria de Estado da Cultura ||Musicoteca, 1994; Portuguese Music Information Centre http://www.mic.pt/ ||Paul Prenen, Amsterdam, 1990.
TRÊS FRAGMENTOS (1985-7)
||for clarinet solo ||5' ||Oficina Musical, 1995 ||António Saiote, Lisboa.
PEÇA (1983)
||for flute solo ||4' ||Calouste Gulbenkian School of Braga ||-- ||Olavo Tengner, Jorge Salgado, Braga, (withdrawn for rev.).
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
composer and pianist specialized in the performance and writing of Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and as well as Contemporary Music.
He is also a literary author having written books, essays and articles on the subject of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
.
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) were he graduated in Musical Composition.
He is currently teaching Music Composition at the 'Escola Superior de Música' in Lisbon, and has been doing so 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 unique Jazz style, the first being - Outros Lugares (1983). He also wrote seven soundtracks for Portuguese films and two theatrical plays.
Since his return from Holland he has mainly been a Classical composer, having written three Operas, several orchestral and ensemble pieces, and also works recorded by: the Arditti String Quartet, the Galliard Ensemble, the Royal Scottish Academy Brass and The Northern Sinfonia among others.
Official Biography
António Pinho Vargas was born in Vila Nova de GaiaVila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia, or simply Gaia is a city in Vila Nova de Gaia Municipality, Portugal. It is located in the Porto District, south of the city of Porto on the other side of the Douro River. The city proper has a population of 178,255 and the municipality contains 24 parishes with a total...
(near Oporto) in 1951. He has a History degree, and obtained the final degree for Piano studies from the Oporto Conservatory. He went abroad to study for three years under the guidance of composer - Klaas de Vries at the Rotterdam Conservatory with a scholarship from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. He there obtained his degree in Composition in 1990. He was awarded The Order of Prince Henry the Navigator (a Portuguese National Order of Knighthood - "Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique") by the President of the Portuguese Republic in 1995. He now teaches Composition at "Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa" and has done so since 1991. He had also attended composition courses, workshops and seminars in Portugal (with Emanuel Nunes), in the Netherlands (with John Cage and Louis Andriessen), in Hungary (with Gyorgy Ligeti), and in Italy (with Franco Donatoni). He worked as music consultant for the Serralves Foundation in Oporto (between 1994 and 2000), and for the "Centro Cultural de Belém" in Lisbon (from 1996 to 1998). In 2010 he completed his PhD with the thesis 'Music and Power: towards a sociology of the absence of portuguese music in the european context at the University of Coimbra, published by Almedina in 2011.
He began to play Jazz in 1974 with, among others, the following musicians: Kenny Wheeler, Steve Potts ,Paolo Fresu, Arild Andersen, Jon Christensen, Adam Rudolph, among others.
With his jazz group, he performed throughout Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, the former Yugoslavia, USA, Cape Verde, South Africa and Macao.
Some of António Pinho Vargas's recorded work is the following (some of his early recordings): Outros Lugares (1983), Cores e Aromas (1985), As Folhas Novas Mudam de Cor (1987), Os Jogos do Mundo (1989), Selos e Borboletas (1991), A Luz e a Escuridão (1996) and the best-of As Mãos (1998).
He was awarded three times with the "Sete de Ouro", the Portuguese journalistic prize for 'Best Instrumental Record of the Year'. António P. Vargas composes for the theatre as well as for cinema, having written work for João Botelho’s movies Tempos Difíceis – Hard Times (1988) (receiving an I.P.C. Award for Best Soundtrack),
and Aqui na Terra – Here On Earth (1993). He also composed soundtracks for José Fonseca e Costa’s movie Cinco Dias, Cinco Noites – Five Days, Five Nights (1996) (awarded Best Soundtrack at the Gramado Movie Festival, in Brasil), João Botelho’s film Quem és tu? – Who Are You? (2001), and O Fascínio (2003), a José Fonseca e Costa film. He also composed for Carlos Avilez's staging of William Shakespeare's Hamlet (1987) and Richard II (1995).
Since his years in Holland, António Pinho Vargas has composed Contemporary Music for the most part, having reached a prominent place in the Portuguese music scenario. He has had his work performed in France, Germany, Holand, Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Spain, Brasil, United Kingdom and USA. His compositions have been commissioned and/or sponsored by institutions such as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Culturgest, Lisbon 1994 – European Culture Capital, Expo’98, Teatro Nacional de S. Carlos, and Porto’2001 – European Culture Capital.
In António Pinho Vargas’s work there are compositions for ensemble and solo instruments such as Mirrors (for piano solo, first performed in Amsterdam, 1990, by Paul Prenen and later performed by Ronald Brautigam, Madalena Soveral, Francisco Monteiro, Tania Achot, Gloria Chen-Chocran, Volker Banfield and Miguel Henriques among others), Três Versos de Caeiro (Ensemble Nuova Sincronia, Northern Sinfonia, OrchestrUtopica, Remix Ensemble). There are also compositions for orchestra: Acting Out, (under the direction of António Saiote, J.R. Encinar , Martin André), A Impaciência de Mahler(under direction by Michael Zilm, Martin André), and compositions for choir with orchestra. The following are some examples: Judas secundum Lucam, Joannem, Matthaeum et Marco, (under Fernando Eldoro). He also wrote the following operas: Édipo, Tragédia de Saber and Os Dias Levantados (under the direction of João Paulo Santos).
The premiere of Six Portraits of Pain for cello and large ensemble was held in April 2005 (Anssi Karttunen / cello and Remix Ensemble conducted by Frank Ollu) for the opening of the music hall Casa da Música in Oporto.
He attended Other Minds V Festival, a festival organized by Charles Amirkhanian in S.Francisco (USA), in March 1999. He also attended the International Music Theatre Workshop at the "Oper am Rhein" in Düsseldorf, for a video presentation of Os Dias Levantados. In 2001 he went to the Bellagio Study and Conference Center in Italy, having received a grant (scholarship) from the Rockefeller Foundation.
The CD Monodia, was produced in 1995 by EMI Classics and sponsored by Lisbon’94 - European Culture Capital.
The piece for string quartet Monodia-quasi un requiem was performed in 1998 by the Artis Quartet of Wien. It is included in the Portuguese Chamber Music CD, performed by the Arditti String Quartet (Etcetera Records). The CD Versos was sponsored by IPAE and produced in 2001 by Strauss.
In February and March, 2002, Culturgest held a Festival dedicated to António Pinho Vargas’s body of work. Also, a documentary film was made -"António Pinho Vargas, notas de um compositor" – (António Pinho Vargas, the composer’s notes). The film was commissioned by Culturgest, LxFilmes and RTP, and co-directed by Manuel Mozos and Luís Correia.
The composer’s first book, "Sobre Música" (On The Subject of Music), was published by 'Afrontamento' in 2002. It contains seven essays, several texts and interviews. A live recording of the opera Os Dias Levantados was released in 2005 by EMI Classics. António Pinho Vargas was one of the artistic directors for OrchestrUtopica until 2007.
Graffiti [just forms], a work for large orchestra, was premiered in March 2006. It was performed the by the Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa under the direction of Lothar Königs.
Albums
- 1983 - Outros Lugares
- 1985 - Cores e Aromas
- 1987 - As Folhas Novas Mudam de Cor
- 1989 - Os Jogos do Mundo
- 1991 - Selos e borboletas
- 1996 - A Luz e a Escuridão
- 1998 - As Mãos - Best of
- 2001- Versos
- 1995- Monodia
- 2003 - Os Dias Levantados
- 2008 - "Solo"
- 2009 - "Solo II"
- 2011 - "Concerto no IST - Improvisações"
Ensemble
SIX PORTRAITS OF PAIN (2005)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
Published by:
First Performance: Anssi Karttunen (violoncello) and Remix Ensemble, dir: Frank Ollu, Porto, 2005
| critic |
MACHINES FICTIVES (pour Pierrot le fou) (2003)
for Ensemble
fl; ob; cl; bcl, fg; 2 perc; pf; vl I; vl II; vla; vlc; cb;
Duration: 12 '
Commissioned by: Fundação Oriente
Published by:
First Performance: OchestrUtópica, dir. Yu- Feng, Lisboa, 2003
TRÊS VERSOS DE CAEIRO (1997)
for 12 instruments
fl; ob; cl, cor; fg;; pf; perc; vln I ; vl II; vla; vlc; cb
Duration: 10'
Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste Gulbenkian
Published by:
First Performance: Ensemble Nuova Sincronia, dir. Renato Rivolta, Lisboa and Milano, 1997
| record |
TRÊS QUADROS PARA ALMADA (1994)
for 10 instruments
fl, cl1, cl/clb, fg/cfg, tp, cr, tbn, pf, vln, vlc,
Duration: 17'
Commissioned by: Professional School of Music - Almada
Published by:
First Performance: Soloists from Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, Lisboa
| record |
ESTUDO/FIGURA (1990)
for 10 instruments
fl; cl; c.i.clb; vib/mar; cel/pf vln I vla; vlc; cb
Duration: 12'
Commissioned by:
Published by:
First Performance: Performance: Ensemble RC, dir. Arie Van Beck, Ammsterdam
MÚSICA PLANA / MÚSICA CONTRAPLANA (1989)
for Opus Ensemble
ob/c.i.,vla, cb, pf.
Duration: 12'
Commissioned by: RTP
Published by:
First Performance: Soloists from Rotterdam's Conservatorium, Amsterdam
(withdrawn for rev.)
CÍRCULOS (1986)
for ensemble (10 instruments)
fl; ob; cl; v; va; vc; pf; perc
Duration: 10'
Commissioned by:
Published by:
First Performance: Oficina Musical, dir. Álvaro Salazar, 1987
(withdrawn for rev.)
Orchestra
AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK (2009)for orchestra
(Strings 3 vlns 2 vlas, 3 vlc, 1cb e harpschord)
Duration: 12 '
Commissioned by: Centro Cultural de Belém
Published by: antónio pinho vargas
First Performance: Orq. Metropolitana de Lisboa, dir. MICHAEL ZILM ,
Abril 2009
Grande Auditório do CCB
UM DISCURSO DE THOMAS BERNHARD (2009)
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
Published by: antónio pinho vargas
First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. MICHAEL ZILM ,
Dezembro 2007
Pequeno Auditório do CCB
GRAFFITI [just forms] (2006)
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
Published by: http://www.editions-ava.com/store/work/8/
First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. LOTHAR KÖNIGS, Março
2006, Grande Auditório do CCB
| critic |
RE-ENTERING (2004)
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
Published by:
First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa dir. Donato Renzentti, Lisboa, 2004
| opinion |
... VON FREMDEN LÄNDLER ... (2004)
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
Published by:
First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Yu Feng; piano: Anne Kaasa, Coimbra, 2004
DUAS PEÇAS (1992–2000)
for string orchestra
(8.6.6.6.5)
Duration: 15'
Commissioned by:
Published by:
First Performance: Orq. Nacional do Porto, dir. Cesário Costa, V.N. Gaia
A IMPACIÊNCIA DE MAHLER (1999)
for orchestra
(2.2.2.2 - 4.2.0.0. 1 perc); (14.12.10.6.5)
Duration: 20 '
Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste Gulbenkian
Published by: Fermata
First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michael Zilm, Lisboa, 2001
ACTING-OUT (1998–2000)
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
Published by: Portuguese Music Information Centre
http://www.mic.pt/
First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. António Saiote.
Piano: Miguel Henriques, Percussion: Elizabeth Davies, Lisboa, 1998
| critic |
EXPLICIT DRAMA (1992)
for orchestra and jazz trio
Duration: 20 '
Commissioned by: Comissão Portuguesa dos Descobrimentos
Published by:
First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michel Swiertchevisky, Lisboa.
(withdrawn for rev.)
GEOMETRAL (1988–2000)
for Orchestra (27 instruments)
Duration: 20 '
Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste Gulbenkian
Published by: Donemus (1989) (rev. version 2001 antónio pinho vargas)
First Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michel Tabachnik, Lisboa, 1989
Chamber music
QUASI UNA SONATA (2011)for violin and piano
Duration: 10'
Commissioned by: Centro Cultural de Belém
Published by: antónio pinho vargas
First Performance: 29-5-2011
QUATRO NOVOS FRAGMENTOS (2010)
for clarinet and piano
Duration: 9'
Commissioned by: António Saiote 2010
Published by: antónio pinho vargas
First Performance: (not yet)
ONE MINUTE TO GO (2010)
for Sond'art Ensemble (fl, cl, ln, vlc, pno)
Duration: 1'
Commissioned by: para os 25 anos do MisoMusic Portugal - 2010
Published by: antónio pinho vargas
First Performance: 14 April 2010, Instituto Franco-Português
MOVIMENTOS DO SUBSOLO, QUARTETO DE CORDAS Nº 2 (2008)
for String Quartet
Duration: 11'
Commissioned by: XXX Festival Internacional de Música da Povoa de Varzim
Published by:
First Performance: Quarteto Verazin, Póvoa de Varzim, 2008
DOIS VIOLINOS FOR CARLOS PAREDES (2003)
for 2 violins
(2.2.2.2. - 0.2.0.2. -1perc) (10.8.6.5.4)
Duration: 6 '
Commissioned by: Movimentos Perpétuos
Published by:
First Performance: Aníbal Lima e Pedro Pacheco, Lisboa, 2003
| record |
STEP BY STEP, WOLFS! (2002)
for 6 perdussionists
(2.2.2.2. - 0.2.0.2. -1perc) (10.8.6.5.4)
Duration: 6 '
Commissioned by: Drumming
Published by:
First Performance: Drumming, dir. Miguel Bernat, 2002
| critic |
TRÊS ESTUDOS FOR 2 PIANOS (2000–2001)
for 2 pianos
Duration: 15 '
Commissioned by:
Published by:
First Performance: Miguel Henriques, Ana Valente, Lisboa, 2001
| critic |
TWO FAMILY DISCUSSIONS (2001)
for 2 trumpets
Duration: 6 '
Commissioned by: International Music Festival of Mafra
Published by: Instituto Camões, 2003
First Performance: John Wallace, John Miller, Mafra, 2001
| record | | critic |
QUATRO OU CINCO MOVIMENTOS FUGIDIOS DA ÁGUA (2001)
for clarinet trio
Duration: 15 '
Commissioned by:
Published by: Quantitas, 2003; http://www.eduardopatriarca.com/page10.htm
First Performance: Cl: António Saiote, Vlc: Jed Barahal, Pf: António Rosado, Póvoa de Varzim, 2001
| critic | record |
SETE CANÇÕES DE ALBANO MARTINS (2000)
for barítone and piano
Duration: 18'
Commissioned by:
Published by: Fermata
First Performance: Paulo Ferreira, Jaime Mota, Porto, 2000
| critic | record |
ESTUDOS E INTERLÚDIOS (2000)
for 6 percussionists
Duration: 25'
Commissioned by:
Published by:
First Performance: Drumming, dir. Miguel Bernat, Lisboa, 2000
| critic |
TERCEIRO VERSO DE CAEIRO (1997)
for 4 instruments
Duration: 10'
Commissioned by: "Sven for Parlor"
Published by:
First Performance: "Sven for Parlor", Athens, 1997
NOVE CANÇÕES DE ANTÓNIO RAMOS ROSA (1995)
for voice e piano
Duration: 25'
Commissioned by: Encontros Primavera de Guimarães
Published by: Fermata
First Performance: Rui Taveira, Jaime Mota, Guimarães, 1995
| critic | record |
NOCTURNO/DIURNO (1994)
for string sextet
Duration: 8'
Commissioned by: Câmara Municipal do Porto
Published by:
First Performance: Sextuor L'Artois de Lille, Porto, 1994
| record |
MONODIA - quasi un requiem (1993)
for string quartet
Duration: 15'
Commissioned by: Câmara Municipal do Porto para as Jornadas de Arte Contemporânea de 1993
Published by: Portuguese Music Information Centre
http://www.mic.pt/
First Performance: Ensemble MusikFabrik, Porto, 1993
| critic | record 1 | record 2 |
MECHANICAL STRING TOYS (1992)
for string orchestra
(8,6,6,4,4)
Duration: 6'
Commissioned by: Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
Published by:
First Performance: Orq. Metropolitana de Lisboa,
dir. Miguel Graça Moura, Lisboa, 1992
POETICA DELL ESTINZIONE (secondo mikhal serguieievitch) (1990)
for flute and string quartet
Duration: 6'
Commissioned by: Oficina Musical
Published by:
First Performance: Oficina Musical,
dir. Álvaro Salazar, Porto, 1990
| record |
CUT (1989 / rev.: 2004)
for saxophone quartet
alto/soprano; alto; tenor; baritone
Duration: 8'
Commissioned by:
Published by: http://www.editions-ava.com/store/work/201/
First Performance: Quarteto de Saxofones de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1989
GRAVITAÇÕES (1984)
for flute and clarinet
alto/soprano; alto; tenor; baritone
Duration: 6'
Commissioned by: Oficina Musical
Published by:
First Performance: Eduardo Lucena, Américo Aguiar (Oficina Musical), Porto, 1984
(withdrawn for rev.)
Opera, Oratoria
OUTRO FIM (2009)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
Published by: Ava Editions
First Performance: Sónia Alcobaça, Luís Rodrigues, Larissa Savchanko, Mário Alves, Madalena Boleo
Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir.Cesário Costa, Lisboa, 2008
- A LITTLE MADNESS IN THE SPRING (2006)
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
Published by:
First Performance: Eduarda Melo, Matthew Bean, Ivan Ludlow
Remix Ensemble, dir. Franck Ollu, Lisboa, 1996
| critic |
- JUDAS (secundum Lucam, Joannem, Matthaeum et Marcum) (2002)
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
Published by: http://www.editions-ava.com/store/work/319/
First Performance: Choir and Orq. Gulbenkian
dir. Fernando Eldoro, 2002
| critic |
- OS DIAS LEVANTADOS (1998)
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
Published by:
First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, Choir from Teatro Nacional de S. Carlos,
dir. João Paulo Santos, Lisboa, 1998
| critic | record critics | record |
- ÉDIPO - Tragédia de Saber (1996)
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
Published by:
First Performance: Soilists from Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, Choir from Teatro Nacional de S. Carlos,
dir. João Paulo Santos, Lisboa, 1996
- ANCESTRAL E MUDO (1994)
opera
for 4 mixed choir
Duration: 5'
Commissioned by:
Published 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"SUITE PARA VIOLONCELO SOLO (2008)"
for Cello Solo || 12' || Conservatório de Música das Caldas de Rainha || Nuno Abreu, Caldas de Rainha, 2008
IL RITORNO (2002)
for harpsichord ||14' ||International Music Festival of Mafra ||Instituto Camões, 2003 ||Ana Mafalda Castro, Mafra
HOLDERLINOS (2001)
||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.
MIRRORS (1989)
||for piano ||9' ||Secretaria de Estado da Cultura ||Musicoteca, 1994; Portuguese Music Information Centre http://www.mic.pt/ ||Paul Prenen, Amsterdam, 1990.
TRÊS FRAGMENTOS (1985-7)
||for clarinet solo ||5' ||Oficina Musical, 1995 ||António Saiote, Lisboa.
PEÇA (1983)
||for flute solo ||4' ||Calouste Gulbenkian School of Braga ||-- ||Olavo Tengner, Jorge Salgado, Braga, (withdrawn for rev.).
Music For Films
- TEMPOS DIFÍCEIS (1988) by João Botelho
- AQUI NA TERRA (1993) by João Botelho
- CINCO DIAS, CINCO NOITES (1996) by José Fonseca e Costa
- QUEM ÉS TU ? (2001) by João Botelho
- O FASCÍNIO (2003) by José Fonseca e Costa
External links
- http://www.antoniopinhovargas.com
- https://www.facebook.com/pages/António-Pinho-Vargas/397146261180
- http://www.youtube.com/user/APVCOMPOSER
- http://www.mic.pt/
- http://antoniopinhovargascomposer.blogspot.com/
- http://www.ces.fe.uc.pt/
- http://www.esml.ipl.pt/