Portrait

3 voices (s.m-s.bar) and large ensemble · 2007

Sophia de Mello Breyner by Árpád Szenes

‘Portrait of an Unknown Princess’ is the English translation (by Richard Zenith) of the title of a poem by Sophia de Mello Breyner, to whom this piece is dedicated.

A great poet of the Portuguese 20th century, Sophia de Mello Breyner also stands as a paradigm of Porto‘s aristocracy at the time: highly cultured, productive, an assertive voice for strong ethical standards and the true driving force of the city’s cultural development. Exponent of an elite – nowadays a verbum non grata – that is today confined to a marginal role in the city’s society.

This piece was composed for the Young Composers’ Meeting 2007 and premiered by Orkest ‘de ereprijs’

Score