Festival & Academy VERÃO CLÁSSICO 2021 | 7ª edição

Artistic Director: Filipe Pinto-Ribeiro

Welcome to VERÃO CLÁSSICO 2021! 

After the extraordinary 2020 edition—which, despite the great difficulties and restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrated the strength and resilience of everyone involved in VERÃO CLÁSSICO, with the participation of 200 musicians from over twenty nationalities—the Festival and Academy return in 2021 with renewed commitment to excellence, passion for music, knowledge, and the sharing of humanistic inspiration.

We had hoped that by 2021 the pandemic would be under control, but unfortunately it continues to affect us and requires the utmost caution and responsibility so that we can safely hold VERÃO CLÁSSICO, with the hope of soon overcoming this tragic moment in our lives.

For the first time, all 2021 Festival concerts take place in the beautiful Picadeiro Real de Belém at the Museu Nacional dos Coches, while the Masterclasses are held at the Escola Artística de Música do Conservatório Nacional.

VERÃO CLÁSSICO 2021 presents daily concerts from August 1 to 10, featuring music from the 18th to the 21st centuries: 4 MasterFest concerts with internationally acclaimed soloists, and 6 TalentFest concerts, showcasing young musicians participating in the VERÃO CLÁSSICO Academy 2021, several of whom have already won national and international awards. 

As both Festival and Academy, VERÃO CLÁSSICO 2021 offers more than 500 masterclasses/open lessons on technique and musical interpretation, led by 12 internationally renowned musicians and professors from some of the world’s top orchestras and conservatories.

For these masterclasses, 200 young musicians—100 Portuguese and 100 international—joined us in Lisbon, coming from countries such as Germany, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, South Korea, Denmark, Spain, USA, France, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Romania, and Ukraine.

This year, the highlights of VERÃO CLÁSSICO include the debuts of Elisabeth Leonskaja, one of the most celebrated pianists of our time; Marianna Shirinyan, a multi-award-winning pianist and Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo; and Stephan Picard, Professor at the Berlin University of the Arts and one of today’s most sought-after violinists and teachers.

As always, the Festival also welcomes back world-class musicians who embody the “musical family” spirit that inspires the Festival and Academy: violinist Mihaela Martin, violist Miguel da Silva, cellists Gary Hoffman and Frans Helmerson, double bassist Gunars Upatnieks, flutist Silvia Careddu, oboist Ramón Ortega Quero, clarinetist Pascal Moraguès, and singer Anna Samuil.

This extraordinary team of musicians and professors fills us with pride and ensures that year after year, VERÃO CLÁSSICO continues to consolidate its reputation as one of the most prestigious and sought-after Festivals and Academies on the international stage.

A heartfelt thank you to all the people who make VERÃO CLÁSSICO possible—and there are many!—as well as to the institutional partners and sponsors who support this extraordinary musical celebration.

With heartfelt thanks!