Contraponto: Canto Ostinato de Simeon ten Holt

At the Theatro Circo, Braga pianists Joana Gama and Rui Braga Simões join forces to present Canto Ostinato (1979) by Dutch composer Simeon ten Holt. An emblematic work of European minimalism, it allows for different combinations of keyboard instruments and leaves elements such as repetitions, accents and dynamics up to the performers, resulting in a hypnotic and contemplative musical experience.

Joana Gama (Braga, 1983) is a pianist and researcher, with a PhD from the University of Évora and a member of the Centre for Music Studies (NOVA FCSH). She works in the performing arts and is currently preparing E as flores? (And the flowers?), a show for children with music by João Godinho. She composed the soundtrack for the short film KORA, by Cláudia Varejão.

Rui Braga Simões (Braga, 1998), who lives in The Hague, specialises in contemporary music. He has premiered works by composers such as Martijn Padding and is a member of the Ear to Earth Ensemble. He holds a master’s degree from the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, where he studied with Ellen Corver, and collaborates with renowned musicians such as Asko Schönberg and the New European Ensemble.

Contraponto is a cycle dedicated to 20th and 21st century composition, where we invite local, national and international ensembles and composers to guide us through the music of one of the most fertile periods in terms of new ideas and forms.