On 4 October, the MIM will welcome Manuel Beja Santos and Pedro Morais Andrade. They will perform a program for violin and piano featuring music by Luiz Costa, Manuel de Falla and Luis de Freitas Branco.
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We are delighted to present Iberian Echoes, a musical journey through the folk traditions of Portugal and Spain. Performed by the Portuguese musicians, based in Brussels, Pedro Morais Andrade (violin) and Manuel Beja Santos (piano), this program marks the fortieth anniversary of the two countries’ accession to the European Union – a celebration not only of their political partnership, but also of the cultural intertwining that has shaped the Iberian Peninsula for centuries.
Throughout history, Portugal and Spain have evolved as neighbouring voices – distinct in language, temperament and expression, yet in constant resonance through shared histories and interconnected artistic traditions. Their music reveals precisely this connection: call and response, contrast and harmony, distinct identity and shared purpose.
Through works by Luiz Costa, Luís de Freitas Branco and Manuel de Falla, the recital explores the way in which each composer expressed national identity from a broader European perspective. The contrast between Freitas Branco’s crystalline modernism and De Falla’s folkloric vitality reveals two complementary visions of what it means to belong to a nation and to Europe.
Iberian Echoes invites the audience to listen beyond borders, to understand how difference is transformed into dialogue and how the many voices of the Iberian spirit continue to resonate within Europe’s shared cultural space.
Pedro Morais Andrade
Currently based in Belgium, Pedro Morais Andrade is an exceptional musician whose international career seamlessly bridges artistic virtuosity with high-level cultural diplomacy and unfolds between the virtuosity of the violin and leadership in orchestral conducting. Recognized for his strong expressiveness and versatility, he performs regularly as a soloist and guest conductor on major European stages.
Manuel Beja Santos
Manuel Beja Santos is a Portuguese pianist whose career has developed across solo performance, chamber music, and teaching, underpinned by a deep and sustained commitment to 20th-century Portuguese music.
This commitment has taken him to concert halls and cultural institutions across Europe, with recitals dedicated to composers such as Luís de Freitas-Branco and Fernando Lopes-Graça. A recent highlight of his artistic activity was a lecture-recital at the Académie Royale de Belgique, presented in collaboration with pianist Bruno Belthoise, exploring the richness of Portuguese piano music of the 20th century.
