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EURICO PEREIRA

Concierto de Aranjuez: “…brought vividly to life by the extraordinary dexterity and musicality of young guitarist Eurico Pereira.” West Sussex County Times

Eurico Pereira began his guitar studies at the age of nine, and three years later was offered a place at the National
Conservatoire in Lisbon, where he studied with Manuel Morais. He was also awarded a scholarship by the Foundation Gulbenkian, and was the only student so far to achieve the mark of twenty out of twenty in the guitar final examination of the Conservatoire of Lisbon.

In 1998 Eurico entered the University of Évora, and was selected for several engagements in Lisbon, Évora, and Condeixa, and to perform Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez for the television channel RTP2. In 2002 the disc Compositores Portugueses was released, with solo recordings by Pereira of works dedicated to him by distinguished composers. This record would receive stunning reviews, and lead to a live performance and interview on the national radio.

Following his graduation with Distinction from the University in 2002, Eurico auditioned for the Postgraduate Diploma course at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He was offered a place and a full scholarship by the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music, one of only two international awards made to RAM students by this prestigious institution. As a student of Head of Guitar Michael Lewin, Eurico would again achieve the Distinction mark in his final recital.

During his time at the Academy he performed the concert “Dances for moon animals” at David Josefowitz Recital Hall, including the premiere of Heptaphonic dedicated to Eurico by British composer Bob Broadley. He also participated in the Berio Festival in London, performing Sequenza XI, and was selected for appearances at the Bolivar Hall Guitar Festivals, Spitalfields Festival and the Pump Room in Bath.

More recently, Eurico toured Portugal with sponsorship of the Orient Foundation, including the première of
Snowscapes in June, dedicated to the guitarist by Hong-Kong composer May-Kay Yau. He was also a soloist with the Horsham Symphony Orchestra under Benjamin Pope, the Manson Ensemble conducted by Sir Maxwell Davies, and appeared in recitals at the Pendon Guitar Society, The Annual Conference of the European Guitar Teachers Association, and the prestigious series of the Bank of Portugal.

This season, the guitarist will be performing the innovative solo tour “Discovering the music of Sor”, with over 10 recitals, and Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s concerti with several orchestras to mark the 40th anniversary since he passed away. This includes the Southgate Symphony conducted by renowned maestro Adrian Brown. Eurico will be the soloist in Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo with Nova Orquestra Sinfónica de Lisboa, at the 2000- seat Aula Magna, and shall recite in Paris and Prague, following his recent 1st prize at the London International Music Competition promoted by the Anglo-Czechoslovak Trust.

Sample PROGRAMME
Solo Performance by the Portuguese guitarist, Eurico Pereira

Valse Venezuelano no.3 Antonio Lauro (1917-1986)

3 Prelúdios Manuel Ponce (1882-1948)

Bagatelles William Walton (1908-1983)
III Alla Cubana
II Lento

from Partita Jan Antonín Losy (1650-1721)
Gavotte
Sarabande
Gigue
Little Stories: selected pieces from op 31 Fernando Sor (1778-1839)
Allegretto
Lento
Andante
Allegro
Theme Variée et Finale Manuel Ponce

Interval

O Idílio de Évora op 10 Eurico Pereira (b.1980)

Sonata op 25 Fernando Sor

Andante Largo
Allegro non troppo
Andantino Grazioso - Thema con 5 Variazioni
Allegro - Minuetto

Eurico Pereira, guitar
Duration: 1’20
Instrument: Lowe 2005

		review and guitarist biography
EURICO PEREIRA Concierto de Aranjuez: “…brought vividly to life by the extraordinary dexterity and musicality of young guitarist Eurico Pereira.” West Sussex County Times Eurico Pereira began his guitar studies at the age of nine, and three years later was offered a place at the National Conservatoire in Lisbon, where he studied with Manuel Morais. He was also awarded a scholarship by the Foundation Gulbenkian, and was the only student so far to achieve the mark of twenty out of twenty in the guitar final examination of the Conservatoire of Lisbon. In 1998 Eurico entered the University of Évora, and was selected for several engagements in Lisbon, Évora, and Condeixa, and to perform Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez for the television channel RTP2. In 2002 the disc Compositores Portugueses was released, with solo recordings by Pereira of works dedicated to him by distinguished composers. This record would receive stunning reviews, and lead to a live performance and interview on the national radio. Following his graduation with Distinction from the University in 2002, Eurico auditioned for the Postgraduate Diploma course at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He was offered a place and a full scholarship by the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music, one of only two international awards made to RAM students by this prestigious institution. As a student of Head of Guitar Michael Lewin, Eurico would again achieve the Distinction mark in his final recital. During his time at the Academy he performed the concert “Dances for moon animals” at David Josefowitz Recital Hall, including the premiere of Heptaphonic dedicated to Eurico by British composer Bob Broadley. He also participated in the Berio Festival in London, performing Sequenza XI, and was selected for appearances at the Bolivar Hall Guitar Festivals, Spitalfields Festival and the Pump Room in Bath. More recently, Eurico toured Portugal with sponsorship of the Orient Foundation, including the première of Snowscapes in June, dedicated to the guitarist by Hong-Kong composer May-Kay Yau. He was also a soloist with the Horsham Symphony Orchestra under Benjamin Pope, the Manson Ensemble conducted by Sir Maxwell Davies, and appeared in recitals at the Pendon Guitar Society, The Annual Conference of the European Guitar Teachers Association, and the prestigious series of the Bank of Portugal. This season, the guitarist will be performing the innovative solo tour “Discovering the music of Sor”, with over 10 recitals, and Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s concerti with several orchestras to mark the 40th anniversary since he passed away. This includes the Southgate Symphony conducted by renowned maestro Adrian Brown. Eurico will be the soloist in Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo with Nova Orquestra Sinfónica de Lisboa, at the 2000- seat Aula Magna, and shall recite in Paris and Prague, following his recent 1st prize at the London International Music Competition promoted by the Anglo-Czechoslovak Trust. Sample PROGRAMME Solo Performance by the Portuguese guitarist, Eurico Pereira Valse Venezuelano no.3 Antonio Lauro (1917-1986) 3 Prelúdios Manuel Ponce (1882-1948) Bagatelles William Walton (1908-1983) III Alla Cubana II Lento from Partita Jan Antonín Losy (1650-1721) Gavotte Sarabande Gigue Little Stories: selected pieces from op 31 Fernando Sor (1778-1839) Allegretto Lento Andante Allegro Theme Variée et Finale Manuel Ponce Interval O Idílio de Évora op 10 Eurico Pereira (b.1980) Sonata op 25 Fernando Sor Andante Largo Allegro non troppo Andantino Grazioso - Thema con 5 Variazioni Allegro - Minuetto Eurico Pereira, guitar Duration: 1’20 Instrument: Lowe 2005
A review from the national Indian newspaper " The Hindu" : FULLY ABSORBED With a lone spotlight shining on him in the dark hall, Eurico forgot the world around... "Musical Tapestries from Portugal” by the gifted Eurico Pereira set the tune of the first concert of the 11th East West Music and Dance Encounter by the Bangalore School of Music at the Alliance Francaise. Organised by Dockers San Francisco, Fundacao Oriente Haywards Black and Radio Indigo 91.9 FM, the curtain-raiser unfurled a rich tapestry of music from the western European country. Twenty-eight-year-old Eurico Pereira enthralled the audience with his intricate music — performing “small pieces, each very different from each other, coming from different countries and having different styles” in the first half of the performance. Clad in a red shirt, the demonstrative musician performed with the guitar perfectly nestled on his knee. Eurico was simply a genius – having played the instrument since he was nine, he studied at the National Conservatoire at Lisbon and the University of Evora, before being awarded a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music in London. With just a lone spotlight shining on him in the dark hall, Eurico performed a bout of compositions on the guitar which seemed to be the very core of his musical self. Performing the Venezuelan Antonio Lauro’s “Valse (Waltz) Venezuelano No. 3”, the composer’s most famous work, Eurico’s intonating rendition straddled the space between mirthful and solemn. Mexican composer Manuel Maria Ponce’s “Three Preludios” were brimming with rhythm – from being delightful, light, playful and coaxing, the music let you drift away. British composer William Walton’ “Bagatelles” was more animated, characterised by notes ranging from sensuous to short, staccato. It was like ripples in a lake snaking their way through to form veins and lines; and Eurico’s performance was sustained and well-constructed. Playing Bohemian baroque lute player Jan Antonin Losy from Prague saw Eurico breathing, soaking and luxuriating in the Italian and French fusion music. “Beethoven of the Guitar”, Spanish Fernando Sor’s “Little Stories from Opus 31” was tuneful and soothing, with a very serious, piano sound to it. The movements ranged from strong church-organ-like influences to a bevy of lively notes. The second half saw Eurico’s own compositions — “O Idilio de Evora opus 10” —which he composed four years ago when he was studying at University. The piece, which was meant to be a “beautiful poetic experience”, had a different tone altogether that moved away from Portuguese musical intricacies to adopt a more universal feel, without losing its folksy character. Eurico closed the evening with Fernando Sor’s music again, this time performing from one of his famous Sonatas opus 25. While Andante Largo was forceful and grand, at once reminding you of Napolean-invaded Spain, the first movement was more stately and regal. “Allegro non troppo” was cheerful, “Andantino Grazioso” was a string of harmonised melodies and “Allegro Minuetto” was dramatic with staccato renditions. Eurico Pereira’s performance was immersed in his guitar throughout – exemplary of an artiste who is so absorbed in his art – that he forgets the world around. The concert was a tapestry of melodies that saw lyrical music woven in from not only Portugal, but also other Latin American countries that contributed to this genre. AYESHA MATTHAN