Portuguese world premiere

The latest work by composition lecturer Dr Pedro Faria Gomes is set to premiere in Lisbon on 14 February 2016.

ELA, a piece for brass and percussion, was a commission from the Portuguese National Opera (Teatro Nacional de São Carlos) and will be performed by the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Joana Carneiro.

Appropriately for a Valentine’s Day premiere, ELA (the Portuguese word for ‘She’ is largely based on the name of Dr Faria Gomes’ wife.

Explaining in his programme note, Dr Faria Gomes said: “ELA is a musical cryptogram on my wife’s name, Sophie. The three letters in Sophie which correspond to musical notes form the main motif of the piece (SHE = E flat, B natural, E natural).”