15th edition

April 2 to 29, 2022

April is the month of freedom, in Viseu it is the month of music…
“If we had no winter, spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes experience the taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” Anne Bradstreet

After two such atypical editions, conditioned by the Covid19 reality, the festival abandons live streaming broadcasts, and calls audiences to the halls of our musical spring once again.

This edition offers 19 concerts involving around 300 musicians. As you would expect, the line-up is filled with musicians from the four corners of the world representing countries such as Brazil, Argentina, China, Slovakia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.

Although there are many foreign musicians, the festival will start with the home silver, giving the honour to our students and teachers.

Six orchestras will take the stage: Orquestra XXI, Orquestra Filarmonia das Beiras with the Quartet from Rio de Janeiro, Orquestra de Saxofones do Dão, Orquestra POEMa with Abraham Cupeiro, Orquestra Filarmónica Portuguesa and the Orquestra Juvenil de Viseu.

The creation of new works has always been a focus of this festival; therefore, in partnership with Miso Music Portugal, FIMPViseu commissioned 3 works for orchestra which will have their world premiere in Viseu, on April 22nd by the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra.

Several international soloists will perform on our stages, among which we highlight the guitarists Carlo Curatolo and Elia Portarena from Italy, Karol Samuelčík from Slovakia and the Chinese pianist Qing Li.

In Chamber Music we would like to highlight the Trio Cavalcade from France, with Jérémy Jouve, Mathias Duplessy and Stéphane Edouard; the Duo Melis formed by the guitarists Susana Prieto and Alexis Muzurakis from Spain and Greece; the Duo of Carles Pons and Dario Polonara, from Spain and Argentina with the programme “El Tango”; Re: Flexus Trio that among others brings us the music of Sérgio Azevedo; to the Ibertrio that on the eve of the 25th April, will present us with the programme “Music Weapon of Freedom”.
We will also have the presence of several duos of “house musicians” with very diverse programs, from which we highlight “Car12 a Grande Viagem” a music-theatre show with André and Miguel Cardoso.

The International Guitar and Piano Competition of Viseu attracts young performers, excellent musicians from all over the globe, confirming the international scope of the festival.
This year, we have again the Guitar in the main role; after a first eliminatory round online, we will be able to attend in person the 2nd eliminatory round and the final on the 8th and 9th. This contest stands out not only in the national but also internationally, and has been a launch pad for a current generation of great guitarists.

Thank you to the audience, the musicians, the patrons and all the entities that support the FIMPViseu.
A special thanks to the Municipality of Viseu, in the person of the Mayor of Viseu Dr. Fernando Ruas and the Councillor for Culture Leonor Barata for all the support given to Proviseu/Conservatório de Música for the realization of this music festival of the city and region.

In a time of pain and human suffering, I hope this music festival can bring us moments of great beauty, focusing on the best that man can do.
In April don’t stay at home, spring is coming!

The Artistic Director
José Carlos Sousa