Festival of chamber music in Monchique VILANOVA
About the Festival
The first edition of the Monchique chamber music festival, called VilaNova,
took place over three consecutive weekends in December: on the 4th, 11th,
and 18th. It was the first time that lovers of classical music had the
opportunity to experience multiple performances in different locations
throughout the town’s urban area over the course of a month.
Organization & Heritage
The festival was organized by the Monchique Parish Council and had the
support of the Parish and the Holy House of Mercy for the use of their
spaces. The festival’s name is a reference to Monchique’s official name as
a municipality in 1773, which celebrated its 250th anniversary in January
of the following year.
Concert Program
Another feature of the festival was its diverse range of concert locations.
The festival began with a performance by Michele Tomaz and Svetlana
Bakushina on voice and piano at the Igreja Matriz on December 4th.
On December 11th, Piotr and Savva Pereverzev and K. Nakuripova-Pereverzeva
performed a concert with violin, guitar, and piano at the Igreja da
Misericórdia.
The festival’s final performance took place at the Igreja do Pé da Cruz,
which had undergone renovations, and featured a harpsichord concert
performed by Svetlana Bakushina, the festival’s artistic director.
The church was open to visitors who wanted to attend the concert or
visit after the renovations.
violin, guitar, and piano concert
Piotr Pereverzev – classical guitar, Savva Pereverzev – violin and K. Nakuripova-Pereverzeva – piano
December 11th, 2022. Igreja da Misericórdia.
voice and piano concert
Michele Tomaz- soprano, Svetlana Bakushina – piano
Igreja Matriz, December 4th, 2022.
harpsichord concert
Harpsichord – Svetlana Bakushina
Igreja do Pé da Cruz, 18 december 2022
The first edition of the Chamber Music Festival in Monchique was a great success. The festival was a big draw for tourists, who were able to experience the unique blend of classical music, stunning landscapes, and charming hospitality of the region. The festival’s concerts were received with great enthusiasm and the success of the first edition set the stage for what promises to be an annually growing cultural event in the Algarve. The Chamber Music Festival has established itself as an important and beloved celebration of classical music in Monchique and will certainly become a must-attend item on the cultural calendar of the region in the coming years.