Biography
Vasco Dantas, Portuguese pianist born in Porto in 1992, obtained his Bachelor in Music with ‘1st Class Distinction’ at the London Royal College of Music, studying piano with Dmitri Alexeev and Niel Immelman, and conducting with Peter Stark and Natalia Luis-Bassa. He concluded a Master in Performance with highest mark under the guidance of Heribert Koch, as well as at the Doctoral study “Konzertexamen” at the University of Münster.
Vasco is artist director of the Music Series Festivals, including Algarve Music Series, Sezim Music Series and Piano Concerto Festival. He has been awarded over 50 prizes and distinctions in international competitions, including: GianClaudio Chiais International Prize (Rome), Grand Prix at Valletta International Piano Competition (Malta), Prix Spécial at Concours International de Piano SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem (Morroco), 3rd Prize at Münster Steinway & Sons Piano Competition, Travel-Scholarship to Bayreuther Festspiele 2016 by Richard Wagner Foundation, Golden Medal of Merit (Matosinhos city, Portugal), Fundação Eng. António de Almeida Prize, Best Portuguese Prize (Viseu International Competition), Esther Fisher Prize (2013 best undergraduate of London RCM), Antena 2 Prize (Portuguese National Radio), Henry Wood Trust Prize (2011 & 2012), Casa da Música Prize 2009, and the following 1st Prizes: Porto International Competition Santa Cecília, Estoril Lisbon Competition, Ría de Vigo International Piano Competition, Alto Minho International Piano Competition, Fundao International Piano Competition, the Florinda Santos International Piano Competition, Maestro Ivo Cruz Chamber Music Competition.
He has also performed solo with orchestras including Clássica da Madeira, Clássica do Centro, Clássica do Sul, Festival de Música Júnior, Filarmónica Portuguesa, Filarmónica das Beiras, Gulbenkian, Jovem Orquestra Portuguesa, Orquestra do Norte, Orquestra Promenade, Sem Fronteiras, Sinfónica de Cascais, Sinfónica Portuguesa, and has worked with well-known conductors, such as, Choi Sown Le, Daniel Cohen, Dinis Sousa, Günter Neuhold, Jan Wierzba, Joshua dos Santos, Martim Sousa Tavares, Martin André, Misha Rachlevsky, Nicholas Kok, Nikolay Lalov, Nuno Coelho, Osvaldo Ferreira, Pedro Carneiro, Pedro Neves, Peter Sauerwein, Rui Pinheiro, Vassily Sinaisky e Victor Hugo Toro.
Discography and Recordings:
(2015) – “Promenade” by KNS Classical – Liszt, Mussorgsky
(2016) – “Golden Liszt” by KNS Classical – Franz Liszt
(2017) – “Tales and other Fantastic Stories” (live) by Antena 2 – Schumann, Stravinsky, Ravel, Gershwin
(2018) – “Alegres Travessuras” (live) by Antena 2, Jovem Orquestra Portuguesa (Pedro Carneiro) – Rachmaninoff/Paganini
(2019) – “Êxitos Russos” (live) by Casa da Música, Porto Symphony Orchestra (Vassily Sinaisky) – Rachmaninoff
(2020) – “Poetic Scenes” by ARS Produktion – Schumann, Reinecke, Vianna da Motta, Rey Colaço, Óscar da Silva, Burnay.
(2020) – “Freitas Branco | Sonatas” by MPMP – Sonata para violino e piano, Sonata para violoncelo e piano.
Vasco has performed in hundreds of musical events in a series of renowned auditoriums in 22 different countries and 4 continents:
Austria – Bank Austria Salon im Alten Rathaus (Vienna), Die Erbsenfabrik (Vienna);
Belgium – Chapelle Sainte Apolline à Monty (Liège);
Brazil – Teatro Carlos Gomes (Vitória, Brasil), Teatro Municipal de Barueri (São Paulo);
China – Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall;
Croatia – Croatian National Theatre (Varazdin);
France – Prieuré le Mesnil Saint-Martin (Chapelle du Prieuré), La Chappelle Saint-Lourent (Tours);
Germany – Bonn Schumannhaus, Münster Steinway & Sons Haus, Eurogress Aachen, Jülich Zitadelle, Steingraeber & Söhne Piano Manufaktur (Bayreuth), Cappella Villa Duria (Düren), Düren Schloss Burgau, Aachen City Church;
Greece – Syggros’ Open Air Theatre;
Italy – Teatro Ventidio Basso (Ascoli Piceno), Teatro Pala Riviera (San Benedetto del Tronto), Saint Anthony of the Portuguese Church (Rome), Portuguese Embassy in Rome.
Kosovo – Red Hall (Prishtina)
Malta – Mediterranean Conference Centre (Valletta);
Morocco – Théâtre National Mohammed V (Rabat), L’Université Mohammed V (Rabat);
Netherlands – Stichting Eigen Muziekinstrument (Amersfoort)
Portugal – All the main venues like Gulbenkian Foundation, Casa da Música, CCB, Teatro São Carlos, Palácio Nacional de Queluz, Palácio da Pena, Europarque, Grémio Literário de Lisboa, Teatro Micaelense (Azores),Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias (Madeira), Ateneu Comercial do Porto, Teatro Helena Sá e Costa, Museu Romântico do Porto, Salão Árabe do Palácio da Bolsa, etc.
Russia – Tchaikovsky Great Hall (Moscow), Tsarytsino Palace-Museum (Moscow);
Serbia – Belgrade City Hall;
Singapore – Institut of Contemporary Arts, Steinway Piano Gallery, Chinese Cultural Centre;
Spain – Mostery Sant Pere de Rodes (Girona), Jorquera Pianos (Barcelona), Teatro de San Agustin (Madrid), Auditório Manuel de Falla (Madrid), Auditório Caixa Nova (Vigo).
Sweden – Stockholm Royal Palace, Royal College of Music;
Thailand – Princess Galyani Vadhana Institut of Music, Portuguese Embassy in Bangkok.
United Kingdom – London Steinway Hall, Whiteley Hall, Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, Regent’s Hall, Pallant House Gallery.
United States of America – Carnegie Hall (NY), Sedona United Methodist Church, Red Rocks Church (Sedona).
Vasco has been performing in several Festivals, Music Seasons and Art Cycles around the world such as:
Austria: De Profundis Artists (Vienna, 2019)
Brazil: Season 2014 of Orquestra Sinfónica Espírito Santo (Vitória, 2014), Teatro Barueri Temporada 2014 (São Paulo, 2014)
China: “An Evening Concerti” with Hong Kong Symphonia (Hong Kong, 2015
France: “Les Amis du Mesnil Saint-Martin” (Montaut 2013, 2017), Festival de la Chappelle Saint-Laurent (Tours, 2017)
Germany: EPTA Deutschland “Teufelsgeiger und Tastenlöwe” (Bayreuth, 2014), Steinway & Sons Förderpreis 2015 (Münster, 2015), Zitadelle Jülich Konzerten, Season 2015 (Jülich), 75º Anniversary Concert of Jülich Sinfonieorchester (Jülich, 2016), Internationales Stipendiatenkonzert 2016 der Richard-Wagner-Stipendienstiftung (Bayreuth, 2016), Junges Sinfonieorchester Aachen, Season 2016 (Aachen)
Greece: 3rd International Piano Festival (Poros, 2011)
Italy: 8th International Piano Festival Ferenc Liszt (San Benedetto del Tronto, 2015), Sant’Antonio dei Portughesi in Roma (2017, 2018)
Kosovo: Chopin Piano Fest Prishtina (2018), Pianisti i Ri – Young Pianist of Kosovo (2018)
Malta: Valletta International Piano Festival (2017, 2018)
Morocco: Le 12e Concours International de Piano SAR la Princesse Lalla Meryem (Rabat, 2016)
Portugal: Gulbenkian Orchestra (Lisbon, 2020), Temporada Sinfónica (Teatro São Carlos, 2019) Madeira Piano Fest (Funchal, 2018), Algarve Music Series (2018, 2019), 5º Festival Internacional de Música do Marvão (Marvão, 2018), 41º Festival Internacional de Música (Paços de Brandão, 2018), Piano on the Hands (Aveiro, 2018), VI Festival de Música Júnior (Montalegre, 2017), Dias da Música (Lisboa, 2017 e 2018), Serões Musicais do Palácio da Pena (Sintra, 2017), XXIV Festival Cistermúsica (Alcobaça, 2016), 51º Festival de Sintra (Sintra, 2016), Orquestra Sinfónica de Cascais (Estoril, 2016), Orquestra Filarmonia das Beiras, (Aveiro, 2016), Ciclo Loulé Clássico com Orquestra Clássica do Sul (Algarve, 2015), Teatro Constantino Nery (Matosinhos, 2015, 2017), Pensar o País com Música de Fundo (Casa da Música, 2015), 8º Festival de Música da Primavera (Viseu, 2015), Ciclo Novos Talentos (Teatro Rivoli Porto, 2015), As Lições dos Jovens Mestres (Açores, 2015), Orquestra do Norte, Temporada 2015 (Porto), XVIII Semana Internacional de Piano de Óbidos (2013, 2014), Teatro do Campo Alegre, Ciclos de Música (Porto, 2013)
Russia: Tsaritsyno Museum Music Season 2017 (December, 2017), Kremlin Chamber Orchestra (November, 2017)
Serbia: Artlink Festival (2019)
Singapore: European International Piano Festival (2018)
Spain: Hammerklavier International Piano Series (Barcelona, 2015), Festival de Música Sant Pere de Rodes (Girona, 2016, 2019).
Sweden: Musik på Slottet (Stockholm Royal Palace, 2016), Aurora Music Festival (August, 2018).
Thailand: Season 2018 of Princess Galyani Vadhana Institut of Music.
United Kingdom: St Stephen’s Church Rush-Hour Recitals (London, 2013 & 2014), North London Festival of Music, Drama and Dance (London, 2013 & 2014), London Steinway Hall 2013-14 (London, 2014), Regent Hall’s, Lunchtime Concerts 2013-14 (Oxford Street, 2013), St George’s Church, Morning Calm Recital Series (London, 2013), 100 Anos Helena Sá e Costa com Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto (Porto Casa da Música, 2013), Planet Piano, Royal College of Music (London, 2013), Bohemian Dreams, Royal College of Music (London, 2013), St Wilfrid’s Church, Concert Series (London, 2012).
USA: Piano on the Rocks (2018, 2019, 2020), Carnegie Hall (2019).
Vasco has actively participated in a great number of piano masterclasses with many well-known professors such as:
– Alvaro Teixeira Lopes
– Andrew Ball
– Artur Pizarro
– Betty Haag-Kuhnke
– Boris Berman
– Cristina Ortiz
– Dmitri Alexeev
– Vanessa Latarche
– Fausto Neves
– Ian Jones
– Ivo Cruz
– John Lill
– Luiz de Moura Castro
– Martin André
– Mats Widlund
– Murray McLachlan
– Nina Tichman
– Paul Badura-Skoda
– Pedro Burmester
– Peter Donohoe
– Philippe Cassard
– Sergei Covalenco
– Yuri Bogdanov
Vasco has actively participated in a great number of piano masterclasses with many well-known professors such as Alvaro Teixeira Lopes, Andrew Ball, Artur Pizarro, Betty Haag-Kuhnke, Boris Berman, Cristina Ortiz, Dmitri Alexeev, Fausto Neves, Ian Jones, Ivo Cruz, John Lill, Luiz de Moura Castro, Martin André, Mats Widlund, Murray McLachlan, Nina Tichman, Paul Badura-Skoda, Pedro Burmester, Peter Donohoe, Philippe Cassard, Sergei Covalenco, Vanessa Latarche and Yuri Bogdanov.
Vasco has performed in hundreds of musical events in a series of renowned auditoriums of 5 different continents, including Austrália, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Kosovo, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, UK and USA such as: Tsarytsino Museum and Grand Hall of Tchaikovsky Conservatory (Moscow), Chinese Cultural Centre, Institut of Contemporary Arts and Steinway Piano Gallery (Singapore), Princess Galyani Vadhana Institut of Music (Thailand), London Steinway Hall, Whiteley Hall, Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, Regent’s Hall and Pallant House Gallery (UK); Hong Kong City Hall (China); Teatro Carlos Gomes and Teatro Municipal de Barueri (Brasil); SchumannHaus Bonn, Eurogress Aachen, Düren Schloss Burgau (Germany); Stockholm Royal Palace and Stockholm Royal College of Music (Suécia); Teatro de San Agustin e Auditório Caixa Nova de Vigo (Espanha); Casa da Música, CCB, Europarque, Gulbenkian Foundation, Palácio da Pena, Palácio Nacional de Queluz, Grémio Literário de Lisboa, Ateneu Comercial do Porto, Teatro Helena Sá e Costa, Teatro Micaelense, Teatro Baltazar Dias, Mosteiro de Alcobaça, Museu
Romântico do Porto and Salão Árabe do Palácio da Bolsa (Portugal).
In the area of pedagogy Vasco has been invited as University Lecturer, he has got a Master’s degree in Music Teaching by Aveiro University, the diploma “Art of Teaching” by London Royal College of Music. He has got a limited number of private pupils and is often invited to teach in masterclasses and festivals. He is regularly invited as a jury member of several international piano competitions.
He has been invited to record for Antena 2, ARS Produktion, Galician Radio, MPMP and KNS Classical. His albums include: Promenade (2015), Golden Liszt (2016), Freitas Branco | Sonatas (2020, nominated for Best Classical Music Album by Prémios Play 2021), Poetic Scenes (2020, nominated for Best Artist of the ), which are available online and were broadcasted by Antena 2 and the german radios MDR Klassik and WDR 3. Vasco is supported by AVA Musical Editions
