PORTUGAL
Area: 92 072 km² - Population: 10.8 million - Capital: Lisbon
Official Language: Portuguese - Date of joining the EU: 1986
A FEW INDICATIONS
Portuguese architecture culminated with Manueline art, during the reign of Manuel I the Fortunate, at the end of the 15th and the start of the 16th centuries. The famous fado is a kind of melancholy popular song in which Amalia Rodrigues excelled. Portuguese craftsmanship offers treasures, including azulejos, superb decorative faiences that the Portuguese make using a technique inherited from the Moors. Portugal’s vigorous literary tradition goes back to the 16th century. Luis de Camões was the greatest Portuguese poet of the 16th century, incarnating the Golden Age of Literature and of Portuguese civilization. Contemporary director Manoel de Oliveira began his cinema career at the start of the 1930’s. He is among the cultural transition figures, and the same applies to the writer José Saramago, who handled the difficult succession to the great poet Fernando Pessoa.
EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE COUNTRY
Franco-Portuguese Tandem
November in Paris, Théâtre de la Ville et Maison de la poésie ( House of Poetry)
Poetry
Les mots vagabonds (Vagabond words)
A Franco-Portuguese poetic recital by Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota.
And also...
10-12 October, Maisons-Laffite, at the Hippodrome (race track)
Multidisciplinary
Horse Festival: Honoring Portugal
Presentation of the Portuguese Equestrian School, of bullfighting riders, and of Fado, traditionally connected with this art (participation by Joana Amendoeira, Cica Roseta and Rodrigo Costa Félix).
13 October-11 January in Paris, Jeu de Paume
Exhibition
Eco
A video installation by Vasco Araújo
Within the framework of the « Satellite » program devoted to contemporary art and to young artists. General manager: Maria Inês Rodrigues.
22-29 November in Bastia
Multidisciplinary
25th Festival of Mediterranean cultures
Portugal is the guest of honor at the Bastia film festival. During that Festival, numerous events will take place organized by the Arte Mare Association, with Maria de Medeiros (carte blanche, a musical show), Mário Soares (conference), João Bénard da Costa (President of the Portuguese Cinématèque (film library))...
27 November-7 December in Clermont-Ferrand
Music
10th Festival de musiques démesurées (10th Festival of “Wild Music”)
A Festival of contemporary music grouping the works of composers belonging to 3 countries in northern and southern Europe. With participation by the Portuguese ensemble Remix.
9 December-19 January in Paris, Galerie de l’Architecture
Exhibition
Gonçalo Byrne – Arquitecturas
An exhibition of works produced by this architect in the last 15 years.
For more information :
Portuguese Embassy
3 rue de Noisiel - 75116 Paris
Tel.: 01 47 27 35 29
Fax: 01 47 55 00 40
http://www.embaixada-portugal-fr.org
- Updated: 04.09.2008
