News | Premiere of "meruge" by Sara Carvalho

Last weekend, as part of the "Vanguarda da Aldeia" project promoted by Síntese – Contemporary Music Group and supported by the Direação Geral das Artes (DGArtes), the work "Meruge" by composer and INET-md researcher Sara Carvalho premiered. The piece, designed for the ensemble, local community, and audience, was presented on June 23 at 5:00 PM at Casa do Bocó (Oliveira do Hospital). Sara Carvalho and the Síntese Group conducted an artistic residency in Meruge on June 22nd and 23rd, during which they worked on the piece with the participation of local community members. This involvement culminated in a concert where not only did the inhabitants of Meruge play a crucial role in the performance, but the audience was also invited to participate.

About the work

The "meruge" (2024) was composed for the ensemble, local community, and audience. "As the title suggests, the work is inspired by Meruge. When considering how I would write this piece, I decided that the starting point would be the chapel of S. Miguel. Therefore, I asked a painter friend to create some watercolors inspired by Meruge. What we will see projected are these places: the chapel, pathways, stone houses, and people. Among the watercolors, some slides invite the audience to participate in the work."