Music History of Portugal - Antecedents of The Actuality - The Turn of The 20th Century

The Turn of The 20th Century

All over the 19th century, there is a proliferation of the concert societies. Bernardo Moreira de Sá (1853–1924), in Oporto, is the director, among others, of the Quartet Society and forms the Moreira de Sá Quartet, which will have an international career. He will have a decisive influence in the Formation of the Oporto Conservatory (1917). However, opera remained as the favourite activity of Portuguese composers, though the creative activity moved slowly towards the symphonic and chamber music fields. The two most significative lyric composers are Alfredo Keil (1850–1907) and Augusto Machado (1845–1924). José Vianna da Motta (1868–1948) and Luiz de Freitas Branco (1890–1955) have a special place in the Portuguese musical life in the turn of the 20th century.