Carlos Damas – violin (Portugal 1973) Reviews “… Top technical marks…Carlos Damas boasts a clear, ringing tone and impressive dexterity. He’s mastered the technical problems posed by Ysaye. His playing of the kreisler demonstrates authentic warmth and charm…” Duncan Druce, in GRAMOPHONE " ... has considerable means (understand by there a technique without fails) and almost always ads to the works he plays a supplement of "heart" and big emotion." Mathias Heizmann, in Artetv November 2007 " ...impressive maturity..." in newspaper Público, January 2007 " ...beautiful version of Prokofiev Sonata...Carlos Damas is a master on this domain..." in Letras newspaper, February 2007 " ...the return of a virtuoso..." in Montepio magazine, December 2007 " ...music and light...interesting young man, result of his music ability..." in Welcome to Macau- Hong-Kong 1997 “… deep and robust sonority…the transparency and expressivity of the violin…one very clear ideas version…” in Diário (concert reviews), 18.7.1995 Spain " Carlos Damas: Harmonie d'un Soir " Delphine Masson in Univers Cité, Paris 1993 Biography From age 3 Carlos Damas (Coimbra, Portugal 8-4-1973) studies at the Conservatory of Coimbra, making his first contacts with the world of sounds. From the age of 6 (to 10) he starts his violin studies at the Lisboa conservatory with professors Vasco Brôco, Alexandra Mendes and Leonor Prado (violinists of Lisbon Gulbenkian Foundation). In 1990 Carlos Damas starts his studies at the Paris conservatory with the great pedagogue Mrs. Jacqueline Lefévre and from 1992-’95 with master Ivry Gittlis. Here he graduates in 1993 with the best classification by unanimity of the jury. In 1992 he is concertmaster of the International Orchestra of the "Cité Internationale de Paris”. During these years he work under the supervision of Lord Yehudi Menuhin. He was the concertmaster of the Orchestre de La Cité in Paris during three years. Carlos participated in Masterclasses by Shlomo Mintz. Special concert appearances and festivals Already at age 15 Carlos Damas has his solo-performance with the National Radio Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Silva Pereira. Later on as a soloist he works with several orchestras such as the Orchestre Jeune Philarmonie, Camerata de St. Severin, etc. He is also invited to participate in the Eastern Music festival and to collaborate with Santo Domingo Symphonic Orchestra. In 1993 Carlos Damas played for the first time in Paris the violin Concerto by the Portuguese composer Luis de Freitas Branco. In 1996 Carlos Damas is invited to participate in the Sammering Festival where he works with Dora Schwarzberg and performs with pianist Yuri Smirnov. This year he also participates in the Salzburg Mozart Festival. In China Carlo Damas plays with the Orchestra of Macau, Canton Symphony and Hong-Kong Philharmonic. He is invited to be assistant concertmaster of Macau Chamber Orchestra, later on he also played as second violin principal. In 1997 he participates in the Macau Music Festival, the arts festival of Macau and as such is the only European to be invited to the 5th Arts Festival of China. From 1998 to 2000 Carlos Damas regulary has been playing in chambermusic ensembles and as soloist in Europe, Asia and America. He has made a successful tour with Madeira Camerata, playing the Bach violin Concertos. In 2002 Carlos Damas plays the 10 Beethoven violin sonatas in 40 concerts in Spain and France. Five concerts with Brahms piano quartet, six concerts with Prokofiev quintet with winds. In 2003/04 he also tours in Japan, Korea and Europe with the Luis de Freitas Branco violin sonatas. He made his début with Prague Philarmonic Orchestra also in 2007, after this concert he was promptly invited for new collaborations with the orchestra. In 2007 Unesco invited him to perform a “Concert for Peace” which took place in Paris. Recordings In 1995 his first recording appears with the label Numérica (Portugal): Two sonatas for violin-piano by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy with pianist Rubén Lorenzo. This year he also has a very successful tour in Spain. In I997 the second cd for Tradisom (Macau-Asia, Portugal) appears. In 2000 a cd is released with works for unaccompanied Soloviolin by Bach, Lopes-Graça, Prokofiev and Yan-Jun-Hua. In 2004 was released a CD with a live recording of Beethoven sonatas for violin and piano nº4 and nº5 “Spring”, also with pianist Rubén Lorenzo. The cd Modern Solo Violin Music is released December 2007 on the international market. It includes two world premiers recordings: by the composers Sérgio Azevedo and Fernando Lopes-Graça. It also includes works by Ysaye, Prokofiev and Kreisler. It was highly ranked by the international specialized press and was chosen cd of the month November by ARTEtv. Spring 2009 his new cd is to be released: Violin-works by Fritz Kreisler. In 2010 Carlos Damas will record a cd for Naxos Records with violin-sonatas by Portuguese composer Luis de Freitas Branco. In those works one hears the typical melancholic folk influences and emotions of Portuguese music) Special credits, awards and violin In 1989 he won a prize awarded in the Portuguese Youth Musical Competition. Also in this year Carlos Damas represents his country in the International Music Camp. The American String Teachers Association awarded Carlos Damas for “ Excellence in Performance and Leadership". He works with conductor Joseph Giunta. In 1995 he gives masterclasses in Conservatório Superior de Música de Zaragoza. In 2004 Carlos Damas is considerated by the www.theviolinsite.com, as a prominent international violinist. Carlos Damas is the finest Portuguese violin player of his generation, and the critics says “…one of best in Europe…” In 1997 Carlos Dams receives as inheritance, a fine violin from Mr. Marceau, former pupil of legendary master David Oistrakh. Last update, February 2009 For his concertmanagement in the Netherlands Carlos Damas is exclusively represented by Jupiter 4 Artists – Louise de Haas in Castricum. For more information have a look on www.carlosdamas.com Jupiter 4 Artists - Louise de Haas Esdoornlaan 15 1901 SC Castricum Netherlands Ph. +31 251 674218 M: +31 6 42143397 E: info@jupiter4artists www.jupiter4artists.nl