António Pinho Vargas (born August 15, 1951 in Vila Nova de Gaia) is a Portuguese composer and pianist specializing in jazz and contemporary music.[1] He has also written books, essays, and articles on music.
Having obtained a degree in history at the University of Porto, he studied music at the Rotterdam Conservatory from 1987 to 1990 and graduated with a degree in Musical Composition. In 1991, he began teaching musical composition at the Escola Superior de Música in Lisbon.[2] His first jazz album was Outros Lugares (1983). He also wrote soundtracks for Portuguese films and theatrical plays.
Since his return from the Netherlands he has mainly been a classical composer, having written operas, orchestral and ensemble pieces, and works recorded by the Arditti Quartet, Galliard Ensemble, Royal Scottish Academy Brass, and the Northern Sinfonia.
for Violoncello and Large Ensemblealto fl, ob, cl, bcl, fg, tp, cor, tbn, 3 perc., pf, Cello Solo,6 vln, 2 vla, 2 vlc, 2 cb;Duration: 27'Commissioned by: Casa da Música / Porto 2001First Performance: Anssi Karttunen (violoncello) and Remix Ensemble, dir: Frank Ollu, Porto, 2005| critic |
for Ensemble fl; ob; cl; bcl, fg; 2 perc; pf; vl I; vl II; vla; vlc; cb;Duration: 12 'Commissioned by: Fundação OrienteFirst Performance: OchestrUtópica, dir. Yu- Feng, Lisboa, 2003
for 12 instrumentsfl; ob; cl, cor; fg;; pf; perc; vln I ; vl II; vla; vlc; cbDuration: 10'Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste GulbenkianFirst Performance: Ensemble Nuova Sincronia, dir. Renato Rivolta, Lisboa and Milano, 1997| record |
for 10 instrumentsfl, cl1, cl/clb, fg/cfg, tp, cr, tbn, pf, vln, vlc,Duration: 17'Commissioned by: Professional School of Music – AlmadaFirst Performance: Soloists from Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, Lisboa| record |
for 10 instrumentsfl; cl; c.i.clb; vib/mar; cel/pf vln I vla; vlc; cbDuration: 12'Commissioned by:First Performance: Performance: Ensemble RC, dir. Arie Van Beck, Amsterdam
for Opus Ensemble (withdrawn)ob/c.i.,vla, cb, pf.Duration: 12'Commissioned by: RTPFirst Performance: Soloists from Rotterdam's Conservatorium, Amsterdam(withdrawn for rev.)
for Violino and OrquestraCommissioned by CCNFirst Performance February 2016, Tamila Kharambura, violin, Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa dir. Gary Walker
para OrquestraCommissioned by Orquestra Clássica do SulFirst Performance July–August 2014
(2.2.2.2–4.2.2.1-Timp. 1/2 perc .hp.- 8.8.6.6.5.)Duration:12'Commissioned by: Guimarães Capital Europeia da Cultura.First Performance: Orq. Estúdio Guimarães, dir. Rui Massena, Outubro2012, Auditório do CC Vila Flor.
for Orchestra, 3 narrators prerecorded and electronicsCommissioned by Casa da Música, Centro Cultural de Belém e Teatro de São Carlos, for the composer's 60 birthdayFirst Performance: OS CdM, dir. Christopher Konig, 1-10- 11,Second performance: OSP, dir. Diego Masson, 17 – 1 -12,
for orchestra(Strings 3 vlns 2 vlas, 3 vlc, 1cb e harpsichord)Duration: 12 'Commissioned by: Centro Cultural de BelémFirst Performance: Orq. Metropolitana de Lisboa, dir. MICHAEL ZILM, Abril 2009Grande Auditório do CCB
for speaker and orchestra(2.2.2.2- 2.2.2.-1 perc, .hp.-6.6.4.4.2)Duration: 12 'Commissioned by: Orquestra Metropolitana de LisboaFirst Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. MICHAEL ZILM, Dezembro 2007Pequeno Auditório do CCB
for large orchestra(3.3.3.1.3.1- 6.3.3.1–5 perc. pf.hp.-16.14.12.10.8)Duration: 25 'Commissioned by: Teatro Nacional de São CarlosFirst Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. LOTHAR KÖNIGS, Março2006, Grande Auditório do CCB| critic |
for orchestra and percussion obligato(2.2.2.2. – 0.2.0.2. -1perc) (10.8.6.5.4)Duration: 8 'Commissioned by: Teatro Nacional de S. CarlosFirst Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa dir. Donato Renzentti, Lisboa, 2004| opinion |
for piano solo and orchestra(2.2.2.2 – 4.2.0.0. – 2 perc- 14.12.10.6.5)Duration: 18 'Commissioned by: International Music Festival of CoimbraFirst Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Yu Feng; piano: Anne Kaasa, Coimbra, 2004(withdrawn for rev.)
for string orchestra(8.6.6.6.5)Duration: 15'Commissioned by:First Performance: Orq. Nacional do Porto, dir. Cesário Costa, V.N. Gaia
for orchestra(2.2.2.2 – 4.2.0.0. 1 perc); (14.12.10.6.5)Duration: 20 'Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste GulbenkianFirst Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michael Zilm, Lisboa, 2001
for piano, percussion and orchestra(2. 2. 2. 1. 2 – 2. 2. 2. 2. 1. 2 perc); strings A (6.6.4.4.3); strings B (6.6.4.4.3)Duration: 19 'Commissioned by: Teatro Nacional de São CarlosFirst Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir. António Saiote.Piano: Miguel Henriques, Percussion: Elizabeth Davies, Lisboa, 1998| critic |
for orchestra and jazz trioDuration: 20 'Commissioned by: Comissão Portuguesa dos DescobrimentosFirst Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michel Swiertchevisky, Lisboa.
GEOMETRAL (1988–2000) (withdrawn for rev.)for Orchestra (27 instruments)Duration: 20 'Commissioned by: Foundation Calouste GulbenkianFirst Performance: Orq. Gulbenkian, dir. Michel Tabachnik, Lisboa, 1989
for string quartet and pianoDuration: 9'Commissioned by: Síntese, GMCGFirst Performance: (14-11-2013)
version for flute and pianoDuration: 9'Commissioned by: Luís Meireles 2010First Performance: (5-1-2013)
for String QuartetCommissioned by Instituto Superior Técnico de LisboaFirst performance: Quarteto de Cordas de Matosinhos at IST, July 2012
for violin and pianoDuration: 10'Commissioned by: Centro Cultural de BelémFirst Performance: 29-5-2011
for clarinet and pianoDuration: 9'Commissioned by: António Saiote 2010First Performance: (2012)
for Sond'art Ensemble (fl, cl, ln, vlc, pno)Duration: 1'Commissioned by: para os 25 anos do MisoMusic Portugal – 2010First Performance: 14 April 2010, Instituto Franco-Português
for String QuartetDuration: 11'Commissioned by: XXX Festival Internacional de Música da Povoa de VarzimFirst Performance: Quarteto Verazin, Póvoa de Varzim, 2008
for 2 violins(2.2.2.2. – 0.2.0.2. -1perc) (10.8.6.5.4)Duration: 6 'Commissioned by: Movimentos PerpétuosFirst Performance: Aníbal Lima e Pedro Pacheco, Lisboa, 2003| record |
for 6 percussionists(2.2.2.2. – 0.2.0.2. -1perc) (10.8.6.5.4)Duration: 6 'Commissioned by: DrummingFirst Performance: Drumming, dir. Miguel Bernat, 2002| critic |
for 2 pianosDuration: 15 'Commissioned by:First Performance: Miguel Henriques, Ana Valente, Lisboa, 2001| critic |
for 2 trumpets or 2 recordersDuration: 6 'Commissioned by: International Music Festival of MafraFirst Performance: John Wallace, John Miller, Mafra, 2001| record | | critic |
for clarinet trioDuration: 15 'Commissioned by:First Performance: Cl: António Saiote, Vlc: Jed Barahal, Pf: António Rosado, Póvoa de Varzim, 2001| critic | record |
for barítone and pianoDuration: 18'Commissioned by:First Performance: Paulo Ferreira, Jaime Mota, Porto, 2000| critic | record |
for 6 percussionistsDuration: 25'Commissioned by:First Performance: Drumming, dir. Miguel Bernat, Lisboa, 2000| critic |
for 4 instrumentsDuration: 10'Commissioned by: "Sven for Parlor"First Performance: "Sven for Parlor", Athens, 1997
for voice e pianoDuration: 25'Commissioned by: Encontros Primavera de GuimarãesFirst Performance: Rui Taveira, Jaime Mota, Guimarães, 1995| critic | record |
for string sextetDuration: 8'Commissioned by: Câmara Municipal do PortoFirst Performance: Sextuor L'Artois de Lille, Porto, 1994| record |
for string quartetDuration: 15'Commissioned by: Câmara Municipal do Porto para as Jornadas de Arte Contemporânea de 1993First Performance: Ensemble MusikFabrik, Porto, 1993| critic | record 1 | record 2 |
for string orchestra(8,6,6,4,4)Duration: 6'Commissioned by: Orquestra Metropolitana de LisboaFirst Performance: Orq. Metropolitana de Lisboa,dir. Miguel Graça Moura, Lisboa, 1992
for flute and string quartetDuration: 6'Commissioned by: Oficina MusicalFirst Performance: Oficina Musical,dir. Álvaro Salazar, Porto, 1990| record |
for saxophone quartetalto/soprano; alto; tenor; baritoneDuration: 8'Commissioned by:First Performance: Quarteto de Saxofones de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1989
for flute and clarinetalto/soprano; alto; tenor; baritoneDuration: 6'Commissioned by: Oficina MusicalFirst Performance: Eduardo Lucena, Américo Aguiar (Oficina Musical), Porto, 1984(withdrawn for rev.)
Choir a cappellaCommissioned by Paulo LourençoFirst performance: May 2014
Choir and OrchestraCommissioned by CulturgestFirst performance: Choir and Orchestra Gulbenkian, dir. Cesário Costa, 11/12 Oct. 2013
Choir and OrchestraDuration: 30'Commissioned by Fundação Calouste GulbenkianFirst performance: Choir and Orchestra Gulbenkian, dir. Joana Carneiro, 21/22 Nov. 2012
chamber opera5 singers; fl; ob; cl; Bcl; fg/cf; 2hn; tbn; 2 perc; pf; 3 vl I;3 vl II;2 vla;2 vln;2 cb;Libreto: José Maria Vieira MendesDuration: 1h 30'Commissioned by: CulturgestFirst Performance: Sónia Alcobaça, Luís Rodrigues, Larissa Savchanko, Mário Alves, Madalena BoleoOrquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, dir.Cesário Costa, Lisboa, 2008
chamber opera3 singers; fl; ob; cl; Bcl; fg; tp; hn; tbn; 2 perc; harp; pf; vl I; vl II; vla; vln; cb;Electronics by Carlos Caires and Antonio Pinho VargasLibreto: Paulo TunhasDuration: 32'Commissioned by: Casa da MúsicaFirst Performance: Eduarda Melo, Matthew Bean, Ivan LudlowRemix Ensemble, dir. Franck Ollu, Lisboa, 1996| critic |
for choir and orchestraLarge Choir; (2.2.2.2.4.2.2.0. 1 perc); (12.10.8.8.6)Duration: 30'Commissioned by: Festival de Música Sacra de Viana do CasteloFirst Performance: Choir and Orq. Gulbenkiandir. Fernando Eldoro, 2002| critic |
opera8 singers; Large Choir; (2.2.3.2 – 2.0.2.2 – 3 perc) ; StringsLibretto: Manuel GusmãoDuration: 105'Commissioned by: Expo'98First Performance: Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, Choir from Teatro Nacional de S. Carlos,dir. João Paulo Santos, Lisboa, 1998| critic | record critics | record |
opera4 singers; 32 choir; fl;fg; cl; ob; tp; tbn; 2 perc pf; vl I; vl II; vla; vln; cb;Libretto: Pedro PaixãoDuration: 64'Commissioned by: CulturgestFirst Performance: Soilists from Orq. Sinfónica Portuguesa, Choir from Teatro Nacional de S. Carlos,dir. João Paulo Santos, Lisboa, 1996
operafor 4 mixed choirDuration: 5'Commissioned by:First Performance: Coro de Câmara de Lisboa,dir. Teresita Gutierrez Marques, Lisboa, 1994| record |
!Title !!Year !!Instrument !!Duration !!Published by !!Commissioned by !!1st performance
for Vibrafone Solo || 6' || Auditório da Academia de Música de Espinho || Miquel Bernat, 2011
for Cello Solo || 12' || Conservatório de Música das Caldas de Rainha || Nuno Abreu, Caldas de Rainha, 2008
for harpsichord ||14' ||International Music Festival of Mafra ||Instituto Camões, 2003 ||Ana Mafalda Castro, Mafra (withdrawn for rev.)
for piano ||26' ||International Music Festival of Coimbra ||Partituras PortugalSom; www.dgartes.pt ||Miguel Henriques, Coimbra.
for guitar ||3' ||Cecilia Colien Honneger ||Cecilia Colien Honneger Album; ||Gabriel Estrahellas, Madrid.
for piano ||9' ||Secretaria de Estado da Cultura ||Musicoteca, 1994; Portuguese Music Information Centre ||Paul Prenen, Amsterdam, 1990.
for clarinet solo ||5' ||Oficina Musical, 1995 ||António Saiote, Lisboa.
for flute solo ||4' ||Calouste Gulbenkian School of Braga ||-- ||Olavo Tengner, Jorge Salgado, Braga, (withdrawn for rev.).
Directed by João Botelho
Directed by José Fonseca e Costa