Introduction

Cupertinos

 

Founded in 2009 by the Cupertino de Miranda Foundation (Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal), the vocal ensemble Cupertinos is dedicated almost exclusively to the Portuguese musical heritage of the 16th and 17th centuries, based on a set of world-famous composers, such as Duarte Lobo (c.1565-1646), Manuel Cardoso (1566-1650), Filipe de Magalhães (c.1571-1652), and Pedro de Cristo (c.1550-1618).

With an annual average of over fifteen concerts, the Cupertinos have already presented around three hundred works, including over one hundred modern premieres. With an unprecedented performative approach, several of these unpublished works have been transcribed from the original sources by the members of the Cupertinos themselves under the guidance of the musical director of the group, Luís Toscano (until December 2023), and the musicologist Professor José Abreu (University of Coimbra and ESMAE). From January 2024, Maestro Pedro Teixeira is in charge of the Musical Direction of the Cupertinos.

Besides the International Festival of Portuguese Polyphony that they host, the Cupertinos have participated in renowned music festivals, namely: II and VI Ciclo de Requiem de Coimbra, I and V Festival Internacional de Música Religiosa de Guimarães, IX Ciclo de Música Sacra da Igreja Românica de São Pedro de Rates, XXII e XXV Cistermúsica – Festival de Música de Alcobaça, Ciclo ‘Espaços da Polifonia’, XVIII Jornadas Polifónicas Internacionales ‘Ciudad de Ávila’, West Coast Early Music Festival, Bolzano Festival Bozen, Temporada Música em São Roque, Festival Terras Sem Sombra, Festival “Polyphony in Portugal” and Festival “Tage Alter Musik” in Regensburg. Recent and future commitments include their debut in the United Kingdom in the ‘Choral at Cadogan’ series of concerts, and performances at the Wigmore Hall, Tage Alter Musik Regensburg and Haapsalu Early Music Festival.

Increasingly renowned as true ambassadors of Portuguese Polyphony, Cupertinos have seen this epithet greatly enhanced by the recent release of their albums, dedicated to Manuel Cardoso and Duarte Lobo. Releaseds by the prestigious label Hyperion, these CDs are a regular presence on classic radio stations across Europe and have been acclaimed in the specialty press (BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone, Choir & Organ, Chorzeit). Cupertinos won the first award with the inclusion in the “Bestenliste” of “deutscher Schallplattenkritik” and were distinguished at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2019, winning in the category of “Ancient Music”.They were finalists in the 2020 and 2023 Edition of the PLAY – Portuguese Music Awards and they have won in the Best Classical/Classical Music Album category in the 2021 edition.