About
The double album KOKYUU is a fascinating compilation of five works for orchestra and soloist, written by Luís Tinoco between 2019 and 2024. A dive into the profound sonic imagination of the acclaimed Portuguese composer, traversing multiple atmospheres and featuring the virtuosity and sensitivity of remarkable soloists. The first disc opens with “Kokyuu – Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra”, a piece written during the pandemic and exploring the metaphor of breath, in the reinterpretation of Ricardo Toscano, a soloist whose sounds are rooted in jazz. In “Work Songs”, the voice of Lívia Nestrovsky takes center stage in a piece built upon traditional melodies from Portugal, Cape Verde, and Brazil. The concertos for cello and accordion reflect the connection between Tinoco and the two instrumentalists who inspired him, to whom the works were dedicated: Filipe Quaresma and João Barradas. Finally, the clarinet concerto "Between Silences," with Horácio Ferreira, is an exploration of sound spatialization, with instruments moving around the room during the live performance, resulting in a unique experience for the listeners.
KOKYUU features performances by the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted by Pedro Neves, and the Porto Casa da Música Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Joana Carneiro and Bastien Stil. The album consolidates Luís Tinoco's position on the international music scene as an artist who, according to composer Augusta Read Thomas, "knows what he wants to say and realizes his artistic vision with passion, elegance, sensitivity and soul."