Joana Rolo Piano Recital – with commentary in English

Portuguese pianist Joana Rolo presents a concert titled Portuguese Composers and the World, weaving music history education into her performance. The versatile pianist, who studied in the Netherlands, places each piece in historical and cultural context, shedding light on interconnections, mutual influences, and similarities in compositional techniques. The program spans from the Baroque to the late Romantic era, featuring composers who are either of Portuguese origin or whose lives were significantly connected to the country. Domenico Scarlatti and Carlos Seixas not only influenced each other’s work but were also among the leading harpsichordists of their time. João Domingos Bomtempo, a contemporary of Beethoven, made a name for himself primarily as a piano virtuoso. José Vianna da Motta, one of Ferenc Liszt’s most beloved students, infused his compositions with German Romantic ideals while retaining the essence of Portuguese musicality. Alexandre Rey Colaço, though not Portuguese by birth (his maternal ancestry carried Portuguese roots), was deeply influenced by the musical traditions of Lisbon after settling there. The final work included in the program is a piece inspired by Ferenc Liszt’s European tour, which was shaped by his six-week stay in Portugal.