Marcos António Portugal (1762-1830)
- Missa de Mortos / com todo o instrumental para se cantar na Real
Capela no Rio de Jan / Composta mto. expressamente de novo para se
cantar nas exéquias da defunta rainha fidelíssima D. Maria Primeira
(1816)
Performers: Veruschka Mainhardt (soprano); Carolina Faria (contralto);
Antônio Pedro de Almeida (tenor);
Frederico de Oliveira (bass);
Coro da Cia. Bachiana Brasileira; Orquestra Sinfônica da UFRJ;
Ricardo
Rocha (conductor)
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Portuguese composer. Son of Manuel António da Ascenção and Joaquina
Teresa Rosa, in 1771 he was admitted to the Seminário da Patriarcal of
Lisbon, where he studied organ and composition with João de Sousa
Carvalho. By 1787, he was sent to study in Italy, where he made a name
for himself writing opera buffa. By 1800 he had returned to Lisbon as
'mestre de capela' to the royal court and maestro of the Teatro de Sao
Carlos. When Napoleon’s troops entered Lisbon in November 1807, he in
spite of his court position did not flee to Brazil with the royal
family. During the ten-month French occupation he revised 'Demofoonte'
for Napoleon’s birthday in 1808. About this time, and until 1834, the
finale of his cantata 'La speranza' was adopted as the national anthem.
In 1811 he fled to Rio de Janeiro with his brother Simão Portugal, where
he composed music for the Teatro São João. When the court returned to
Portugal in 1817, he remained in Brazil the rest of his life. As a
composer, he composed a substantial amount of church music and 50
operas. He also left few instrumental works, among them, two symphonies.
