Teatro das Figuras: As Conquistas
First part of the concert cycle "Era uma vez ... Portugal" in the municipal theatre of Faro by the Orquestra Classica do Sul
Sunday, 31 January 2016 | Culture
The cycle of concerts “Era uma vez ... Portugal”, (Once upon a time ... Portugal) is performed by the Orquestra Classica do Sul in the municipal theatre of Faro (Teatro das Figuras) The concerts are called promenade concerts because they take place at a Sunday noon to allow families with younger kids to participate.
The cycle, intending to set to music the history of Portugal, consists of 4 concerts:
- As Conquistas (The Conquests) - January 31
- Os Descobrimentos (The Discoveries) - February 28
- A Independência (The Independence) - March 20
- A Atualidade (Present Age) - April 17
The concert started with several very popular melodies such as “Don’t Rain on my Parade”, “Entry of the Gladiators”, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Singin’ in the Rain” congenial to the actual time of the carnival. Jorge Serafim, a stand-up comedian well known to a larger public from his many TV appearances, introduced each of the songs played by the Orquestra Classica do Sul conducted by Maestro John Avery.
The second part of the performance was dedicated to the beginnings of the Portuguese history, when several peoples from the Mediterranean invaded the Iberian Peninsula through the centuries. The stories about the Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors were humorously presented by the narrator Jorge Serafim, illustrated by drawings and accompanied with music by the orchestra. The story ended with the beginning of the Portuguese nation after the separation from the kingdom of Leon.