Programme

Mozart – Sonata for Piano and Violin in E minor
de Falla – Movements from Siete canciones populares españolas
Romero – Habanera
Romero – Canzonetta
Romero – Danza rústica

David de la Varga Violin
Alberto Portugheis Piano

Performers

Born in León, Spain, David de la Varga begins his musical education very early as a child singer in “Schola Cantorum Cathedral of León”. He studies violin with Marco A. García de Paz and Jacek Niwelt, later moving to Asturias where he is accepted in the class of the eminent Russian violinist Arkady Futer, concertmaster of the prestigious “Moscow Virtuosi” orchestra. In 2002 he finishes his musical studies at the “Eduardo Martínez-Torner” Conservatory of Oviedo with the best marks, under Gaianne Pogossova. David has taken part in several Masterclasses with teachers like Alexander Vasiliev, Takasi Aiko, Paul Badura Skoda, Oleg Lev and Yuri Zhislin. During the years 2004-2006 he moves to London to take lessons from the prestigious violinist Natalia Lomeiko, teacher at the “Royal College of Music of London”.

With regards to chamber music, he develops an intense activity, being invited to take part in different groups, collaborating with such important musicians as Joaquin Soriano, Natalia Lomeiko, Yuri Zhislin, Joaquin Torre, Iván Martín, Josu de Solaun, the brothers’ duo Moreno Gistain, Anna Petrova, Manuel Román, Andrey Yaroshinsky, Iagoba Fanlo, Jesus Reina, Pilar Vázquez, Eva Juárez, Josep Trescolí, Victor Parra and Alberto Potugheis. He is part of the orchestras “Ciudad de León Odón Alonso”, “Camerata Laurentina and “Eutherpe Chamber Orchestra” in which he plays as concertmaster. He is often invited to collaborate with “JOSPA”, “Orquesta de Cámara Ibérica”, “Juventas Orchestra”, “Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra” and “Galdós Ensemble” conducted by the Spanish pianist and conductor Iván Martín. He collaborates with the orchestra “Juventudes Musicales de León” playing both as soloist and as guest leader. He is a founding member of string quartets “Shedas“ “Pallarés“ and “Eutherpe“, performing with them in several concerts and at music festivals.

From 2007 to 2012 David de la Varga promotes “Masterclasses for violin, viola and violoncello” in León. After the creation of the León Youth Orchestra “JOL“, he is engaged as violin teacher and later as conductor of “Camerata JOL” He obtains a Master’s degree in orchestral conducting under teachers Andrés Salado and Miguel Romea. He now combines his performing activities with teaching at the “School of Music, Dance and Drama of León”(Spain).

Since 2013 David de la Varga plays a violin made by Joseph Curtin.

Pianist and pedagogue Alberto Portugheis was born in La Plata, Argentina, to parents of Russian and Rumanian descent. His international career began after winning First Prize at theGeneva Concours de Virtuosité. 

He performs in recitals, chamber-music concerts and as soloist with major orchestras, including: Royal Philharmonic, LondonSymphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Philharmonia, English Chamber Orchestra, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, Parisand Israel Sinfoniettas, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Sinfonica Nacional of Argentina, Filarmonica of Buenos Aires. His annual Steinway Masterclasses are now legendary. Alberto Portugheis’ repertoire includes music from the baroque to contemporary, with several composers writing specially for him. His acclaimed recordings include: 4 Chopin Ballades, Alfred Nieman 2nd Sonata, Ginastera complete piano music and chamber music with piano, Khachaturian Piano Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra, Khachaturian solo works, Rachmaninov and Shostakovitch cello and piano Sonatas with the cellist Gwyneth George, a CD dedicated to the piano music of Rossini. 2013 saw the release of a double CD with The Complete Piano Works by Spanish composer Elena Romero, followed this year by a CD of music by Bach and Dinu Lipatti, partnered by Italian pianist Stefano Greco and the Youth Orchestra of León, Spain, conducted by Georgina Sánchez.

Alberto Portugheis is founder member and Vice-chairman of the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe, Vice-chairman of the International Society for the Study of Tension in Performance, Vice-president of the European Piano Teachers’ Association and founder of the Asociacion Latino-Americana de Pianistas Pedagogos.

Like his colleague and compatriot Daniel Barenboim, Alberto Portugheis dedicates much time and energy to campaign for lasting World Peace though the organization he presides, HUFUD (Humanity United for  Universal Demilitarisation). Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 for his Peace work and proposals, Portugheis published The Game of War and a Path to Peace the following year. His second book “$$$$$$s In Their Hearts” was released in 2014