19:00
Mafra
Music and Nature
National Museum of Music Auditorium, 04/11, 7:00 PM
This recital explores diverse soundscapes from Latin American and European imagination, bringing together the childhood universe of Heitor Villa-Lobos and the dramatic intensity of Franz Liszt. In The Carnival of the Brazilian Children and The Baby's Family No. 2, Villa-Lobos transforms toys, characters and childhood memories into music of extraordinary tonal richness. Francisco Mignone's Preludes reveal a deeply Brazilian lyricism, while Alberto Ginastera's Danzas Criollas bring the rhythmic energy and colour of Argentine traditions. Closing the programme, Liszt's Après une lecture du Dante leads the listener on a journey of great virtuosity and expressiveness, inspired by the atmosphere of the Divine Comedy. The repertoire as a whole highlights the dialogue between popular tradition, poetic imagination and the pianistic power of Iberian-American Romanticism and Modernism.
Rafael Ruiz has established himself as "one of the great revelations of classical music" (Estado de Minas, 2018). Winner of the special "Hors Concours" prize at the XXV Souza Lima National Piano Competition, he has received several other distinctions, including the "Antena 2 Award" at the XXII Óbidos International Piano Week in Portugal and first prize at the 1st UFRJ National Piano Competition.
He received from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music one of the most prestigious awards granted to incoming students at the Royal College of Music in London, where he completed a Master of Music in Performance with Distinction. At the same institution, he was awarded the David Young Piano Prize and the Margaret Mount Scholarship, later obtaining an Artist Diploma under the guidance of Ian Jones, Dmitri Alexeev and Sofya Gulyak. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Music from UFRJ under Professor Luiz Senise and is currently mentored by pianist Berenice Menegale. He has participated in major music festivals and masterclasses given by pianists such as Paul Badura-Skoda, Boris Berman, Nikolai Lugansky, Milana Chernyavska and Josep Colom.
He has performed in live broadcasts for MEC FM and Antena 2 (Portugal), as well as television recordings, and has appeared in recitals throughout the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Austria, Spain and Portugal. As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras in Brazil and abroad, including the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, Minas Gerais Symphony Orchestra, UFRJ Symphony Orchestra, St. John's Chamber Orchestra, Stockport Symphony Orchestra and the Royal College of Music Ensemble.
