"For the purpose of bringing true SOUND experiences to people PRIVATELY!
... from the gallery to the NEW FORM OF GALLERY through common gathering and eating together!" Rajele Jain
SIMONE LEITÃO pianist
Simone LEITÃO, Sala São Paulo, (c) Daniel Ebendinger
"Simone Leitão’s Bach is full of imagination and soul.” Jed Distler - Gramophone UK 2018
ART LOFT LISBON is proud to host again the performance by the acclaimed pianist SIMONE LEITÃO.
A PRIVATE CONCERT followed by DINNER in an unique and intimate artistic experience in our Private Art Gallery.
TICKETS INCLUDE: The Concert, portuguese wines and the always surprising Confort Dinner as well as all the delicacies that await you upon arrival.
DOOR OPENS at 6 and CLOSES at 7pm In respect to the musicians and to the public the bell is turned off. ART & CONCERT DINNER EVENTS are limited to 33 people.
Valuate the musicians - Valuate the public!
Simone Leitão, Carnegie Hall - NY
"Fluent technique, precision, passion and virtuosity. A born artist" Harry Rolnick - New York Review 2015
Art Loft Lisbon is proud to present, for the second time in Portugal, the prestigious Brazilian pianist Simone Leitão, on 22 November at 7 pm, in a recital featuring works by D. Scarlatti (1685–1757), L. van Beethoven (1770–1827) and M. Ravel (1875-1937), thus marking, as does the entire musical world, 2025 as the year of Ravel, celebrating 150 years since the birth of this famous French composer.
D. Scarlatti - Sonata in B minor K 87 / Sonata in A minor K54
Domenico Scarlatti, son of the famous composer Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725), was born in Naples in the same year as Handel and Bach. Although he lived during the height of the Baroque period, his compositions already show a tendency towards a style that is markedly closer to the beginning of the Classical period.
It is undoubtedly interesting to see how his greatest musical contribution was his keyboard sonatas and how this creation is related to our country. In 1721, already famous throughout Europe, Domenico Scarlatti was invited by D. João V to take up the position of Royal Chapel Master and music teacher to his daughter, Princess Maria Bárbara. Years later, after Maria Bárbara's marriage to D.Ferdnando VI, Crown Prince of Spain, in 1733, we find this Neapolitan composer in Madrid, resuming his duties as music teacher to the then Queen, Maria Bárbara, continuing the work he had begun.
Having lived in Madrid for around 25 years, it was during his time in the service of the Spanish Court that he wrote more than 500 sonatas for keyboard. From this collection, we will hear two sonatas at the beginning of this recital. His sonatas not only made a significant contribution to the development of modern piano technique, but also served as musical material for experimentation and anticipation of the classical style.
Domenico Scarlatti died in Madrid in 1757, having befriended another Neapolitan, the famous “castrato” singer Farinelli, who was also in the service of the Spanish Royal House.
In José Saramago's Memorial do Convento, Scarlatti is one of the prominent characters and his music has the power to heal Blimunda.
L. van Beethoven - Sonata No. 23, Op. 57, Appassionata.
Written between 1804 and 1805, Ludwig van Beethoven's Sonata No. 23, Op. 57, known as Appassionata, occupies a place among the composer's most famous sonatas, such as the Waldstein Sonata, Op. 53, Les Adieux, Op. 81, the Pathetique Sonata, Op. 13, and the Moonlight Sonata, Op. 27.
Dedicated to his friend, the cellist Franz Brunswick, it was first published in 1807.
The title Appassionata was only given to it after Beethoven's death. However, the indication La pasionata can be found in the author's handwriting on the back cover of the manuscript.
Later, in an edition of a four-hand arrangement of the work, published in 1838, it received the title that remains to this day, Appassionata. This designation, which we can also find in Portuguese as Apaixonada, is indicative of a strong passionate atmosphere, making it impossible not to be affected by its warmth and intensity: passion in all its overwhelming power.
In fact, at the time of its creation, Beethoven considered this sonata to be his most tempestuous piano sonata. The posthumous title perfectly illustrates the dramatic contrasts of the first movement - Allegro assai, the solemn interiority of the second movement - Andante con motto, and the overwhelming passion of the third movement - Allegro ma non troppo - Presto. These are pages of wonderful music that illustrate the romantic stylistic choices that so well characterise this composer's music, such as the severe contrasts in dynamics and a mastery in the use of expressive silences.
It should be noted that it was around this time that Beethoven became definitively aware that his hearing problems would be irreversible.
M. Ravel - Miroirs
The recital ends with a work by Maurice Ravel, a composer often associated with a certain musical impressionism and somehow influenced by the creations of his colleague Claude Debussy.
This piano suite, written between 1904 and 1905, seems to have been Ravel's way of paying tribute to his artist friends who had founded the group Les Apaches with him.
This group, which had more than 20 unofficial members, met weekly on Saturdays at the home of painter Paul Sordes. Exclusive to male artists, these gatherings gave their members the opportunity to perform and showcase new works or ideas. They discussed the artistic trends of the time and possible collaborations and performances.
Thus, we find Noctuelles, dedicated to Léon-Paul Frague, Oiseaux triste to Ricardo Viñes, Une barque sur l'ocean to Paul Sordes, Alborada del gracioso to Michel - Dimitri Calvocoressi and La vallé des cloches to Maurice de Lage.
In addition to brilliant sounds and a certain impressionistic character, we also find in Miroirs Hispanic elements so dear to the composer of Boléro.
We thus close this musical moment by paying tribute to this famous composer and, in a way, evoking the ever-present need to gather around art, aware of its role in human existence.
Presentation text by Bernardo Azevedo Gomes
PROGRAMME
D. SCARLATTI (1685 - 1757)
- Sonata em Si menor K87
- Sonata em Lá menor K54
L.V. BEETHOVEN (1770 - 1827)
- Sonata no. 23 op 57 em fá menor "Appassionata"
- Allegro Assai
- Andante con moto
- Allegro ma non troppo - Presto
M. RAVEL (1875 - 1937)
- Miroirs - 150 anos
- Noctuelles
- Oiseaux Tristes
- Une Barque sur l'Ocean
- Alborada del Gracioso
- La Vallé des Cloches
SHORT BIO
Brazilian - MG pianist Simone Leitão maintains a busy schedule in the Americas, Europe and Asia, having performed four times at Carnegie Hall, New York.
She has been a soloist with the Filarmonica de Minas, the Miami, Brazilian, Campinas and National Symphonies and has recorded for BBC 3, Danish, Southern California Classical and MEC radio.
Simone Leitão has a PhD in Piano Performance and Musicology from the University of Miami and a Masters in Performance from the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, where she teaches annually as an Artist in Residence.
She is the founder and Artistic Director of the Academia Jovem Concertante and the Rio de Janeiro Chamber Music Week.
Simone LEITÃO, Sala Cecília Meireles RJ (c)Fernanda Bollari
“Simone Leitão, was the perfect soloist.” Lawrence Budmen - Miami Herald, 2009
(c) Rachel Guedes
BIOGRAPHY
SIMONE LEITÃO
pianist
Simone Leitão is one of the greatest Brazilian pianists today, with a solid career spanning over 40 concerts annually in Brazil, Europe, the United States, and Latin America. She is known for her intense vitality and extensive technical ability, especially in her interpretations of Bach, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, and Ginastera.
Her entrepreneurial personality has gained notoriety in the last decade for her ability to create and direct major projects that foster the high performance of young Brazilian musicians and bring concert music nationwide. Simone is the founder and director of the Academia Jovem Concertante and the Rio Chamber Music Week (since 2012).
Leitão holds a PhD in Piano Performance and Music History from the University of Miami, a Master's in Performance from the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, and a Bachelor's in Music Education from UniRio.
Simone Leitão was a student of Ivan Davis (a disciple of Horowitz) and Linda Bustani. The pianist from Minas Gerais maintains a busy schedule with annual European tours, frequent performances at Carnegie Hall, and collaborations as a soloist with major international orchestras such as the Miami Symphony, Filarmonica de Minas, and the Brazilian Orchestra of the Brazilian Society of Social Change (OSB).
Simone records for the American label MSR classics and has recorded for BBC Radio 3, Danish Radio, Southern California Classical Radio and Rádio MEC.
His national tour with the orchestra in 2013 was the subject of a documentary, directed by award-winning filmmaker Katia Lund, entitled: “Stop, Look, Listen.”
In 2024, Simone will be preparing another solo album and will embark on three national tours with an orchestra, as well as a European and American tour. The pianist believes that entrepreneurship and effective communication are vital for concert music to have a greater impact on today's society. Her digital presence is notable.
She maintains a strong YouTube channel where she brings classical music closer to people, a relevant presence on several platforms that have already generated more than 12 million views.
Youtube: Simone Leitão official
Spotify: Simone Leitão
Instagram: simoneleitaopiano
Twitter: SLeitaoPiano
Site: www.simoneleitao.com
This is a ONE-OF-A-KIND experience ...
How it started... An old stable converted into a house/studio by an artist couple as a living in jewel/ sculpture. The artistic adventure started in 1996 creating the architectural solutions. In almost 3 years the contemporary art collection climbed its walls, took its ceilings, spread all over the floor filling up these 230m² x 5 high and 15 x 2m sculpture garden.
In adition, we've merged our collection to some pieces of our former gallery - Galeria Antiks Design -providing a view on 140 years of portuguese art too.
CONCERT DINNER
Our MENU, being plentiful, is always another pleasant surprise.
In addition to the various delicacies that await you upon arrival, after the concert, dishes of fish, meat and various salads and vegetables will be served.
Homemade cakes desert and an EXCLUSIVE GINGINHA always delight guests.
In case of any food restrictions, please let us know.
CONCERT DINNER events are limited to 33 people (subject to availability).
DOOR OPENS at 6 and CLOSES at 7pm.
The full address will be provided after you BOOK IN. (Príncipe Real)
FAQ
-Are there any ID or minimum age requirements to access your event? NO, but we don't serve alcohol to minors. - What's included in the price? The Concert, the portuguese beverages: red/ white wine, ginginha and the CONFORT DINNER are INCLUDED in the event's price. Please drink in moderation. -What are my transportation/parking options to get to and from the event? TAXI or UBER, Underground METRO RATO. -What can I bring to the event? Open mind. -How can I contact the organizer if I have questions? You will receive the email address and the phone number of the organizer after buying your ticket. -What is the refund policy? Full refund until the day before 12am. -Should I bring my printed ticket to the event? YES please or on your smartphone. -Can I update my registration information? YES -Is my registration, fee or ticket transferable? NO -Is it okay if the name on my ticket or registration does not match the participant? NO.
