On Saturday,17th May at 8:45 pm, the João Leitão Quarry in Ançã will host the photo-concert SOM, part of the Mimesis – Cycle of Theatre and Performing Arts, organised by the University of Coimbra. The event also celebrates the recent recognition of “Ançã Limestone” as a UNESCO Global Heritage Stone Resource.
This dynamic and interactive audiovisual performance is organised by the Ançã Music Academy and the artistic project Cabra Cor de Rosa, in partnership with Cantanhede Municipality, the Ançã Parish Council, and the Association fotografARTE, with the support of the University of Coimbra's Rectorate.
The first part of the performance will feature dozens of photographs projected onto the vast stone façade of this open-air “cathedral” of precious limestone, with each image accompanied by its own soundscape or live music, performed by Vasco Espinhal Otero.
The show will then take the audience on an audiovisual journey through space and time by train from Coimbra to the Gândara coastline — featuring performances by Hélder Santos, Dulce Cruz and João Almeida. This segment will feature poetry readings by writers Grau and Carlos Oliveira.
The cultural evening will conclude with 'Gândara Fiction', a performance combining photographic compositions by Vasco Espinhal Otero and music by Sylvain Barreto. The piece includes reinterpretations of works made famous by António Taboeira, culminating in a final collective improvisation involving all the musicians on stage, blending music, visuals, and live performance.
Translation: Diana Taborda [DCM-UC]