JAVS Spring 2014

IVC H OST L ETTER

Dear Friends,

Oporto is a wonderful city to visit and to enjoy. It was recently acclaimed by the Lonely Planet as the first destination to visit in 2013 and nominated as Best European Destination 2014 by the European non-profit organization European Best Destinations: “Oporto has emerged as a vibrant arts capital.” In Oporto you can experience a rich musical tradition. Side by side with classical music there are good jazz clubs and traditional “tascas,” where you can hear Fado, the Portuguese national music. Our new con cert hall—Casa da Música, designed by Rem Koolhaas—has become internationally renowned and is one of the city’s icons. A rich local cuisine is available at inexpensive restaurants and bars all over the city. Tourist activities and visits to the famous Port wine cellars are included in the program, and for the more adventurous we are providing a boat trip up the beautiful Douro River to visit the Porto wine vineyards, Unesco patrimony. We are preparing a fine collection of hotels with spe cial rates/discounts. There is also a nice youth hostel, and if you want to stay with a Portuguese family we are organizing a list of local viola lovers who will be very happy to welcome you into their homes. All of this and more will be available very soon at our new website www.apvda.com. Hope to see you in Oporto in November!

We are very happy to host the 2014 International Viola Congress in Oporto, Portugal, and we invite you to join us November 26–30, 2014. We are a very dynamic team and are sure that with your enthusias tic participation it will be a great week and a huge success. The IVC 2014 will give a special emphasis to future generations with the title “Performing for the Future of Music.” The recent world financial crisis and the restrictions of the global economy make it of utmost importance to reflect on the role of the violist with thoroughness and care. With the contributions of all, the IVC 2014 wishes to share experiences and motivate and inspire the future generations of vio lists, while continuing to develop the art and knowl edge of the viola even further. We are hard at work building a very interesting pro gram filled with concerts, lectures, master classes, and workshops. A gala concert by Porto Symphony Orchestra, Casa da Música and Michail Jurowski, with Nobuko Imai as soloist is already booked. We will have the opportunity to hear several other viola concertos with concerts by the regional Beiras Orchestra and superior school ESMAE Orchestra. Sunday morning will feature a promenade concert at Porto Coliseu, and in the afternoon we expect, with your help, to surpass our Guinness World Record for the largest viola ensemble. We already have guaran teed fantastic viola players, teachers, researchers, luthiers, and composers. For the younger violists we are preparing a set of master classes and workshops. Concerts and viola spots will be organized all around the city, including concert halls, theatres, art acade mies, cafés, clubs, and other public spaces.

APVDA – Portuguese Viola Society

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