The 2012 Music Season, an initiative of the Presidency of the Government, through the Regional Directorate of Culture, marks the 40th anniversary of Segréis de Lisboa ensemble with two early music concerts; the first will be held at Colégio Church on April 19 at 9:30 PM and the second at Horta Matriz Church on April 21 at 8:30 PM.
The Segréis de Lisboa have played a key role in the dissemination of Portuguese and Spanish music from the fifteenth century to the early nineteenth century. This early music ensemble has performed throughout Europe, USA, Brazil, the Far East, India and Bolivia, where it achieved substantial success among the public.
This year, the Segréis Lisbon celebrate 40 year of activity, bringing to the Azores a programmes featuring Renaissance Iberian Music, which is divided into two parts: the first, dedicated to the Music for Gil Vicente's Theatre (16th century) and the second, titled Music in the Time of Camões, presents a repertoire also dedicated to 16th century music.
Founded in 1972 by lute player and musicologist Manuel Morais, who was awarded the Medal of Cultural Merit from the Ministry of Culture in 1991, this ensemble is composed by its artistic director, Manuel Morais (lute), Ana Leonor Pereira (soprano), Joana Amorim (flutes) and Miguel Ivo Cruz (viola da gamba).
In addition to these concerts, Manuel Morais will also participate in the international conference "Camões and his Contemporaries," organised by the University of the Azores, on April 19.
Under the artistic direction of Emanuel Frazão, the 2012 Music Season is produced by the Azorean Cultural Cooperative MALA Crl, based in Ponta Delgada.