The Festival Season: Classical and Jazz

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The 46th edition of the Sintra Music Festival opened this weekend. This year the special focus and central theme is Liszt and Mahler, both known for musical romanticism, fitting so well in Sintra, the capital of Romanticism. This classical music festival hosts its concerts not only in the Cultural Center of Olga Cadaval, but also in the palaces, churches and manor houses.

From June 24th until the the 10th of July, there are numerous concerts and recitals, talks and movies, performed by a large and varied group of national and international artists. The list is enormous, please check the official site of the Festival for further information; schedules and venues http://www.festivaldesintra.pt/. Some of the concerts are free, to others the tickets average 10-15 euros. Great opportunity to indulge in classical music!

In case that you are not familiar with these composers, here is an address to a youtube video of a romantic piece by Liszt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGw4c2YGGB8 and Mahler http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CjoCAemK6Y (please copy-paste).

As the one festival draws to the end, the Cascais Cool Jazz Fest opens its doors! Actually there are really no doors, as these are outside concerts, starting on July 4th with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings as well as the Portuguese Caís de Sudré Funk Connection, in the Marechal Carmona Park. The last concert is July 29th when Jamie Cullum (and Luísa Sobral) perform at the Hipódromo fo Cascais. In between there are concerts of Seal (20/7), Madeleine Peyroux (6/7), Afrikkanitha (8/7) ... and so many more. The official site is http://www.cooljazzfest.com/programa_2011.html - check that out!

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