The municipality of Penacova hosts in October the 3rd edition of the Lorvão Monastery Music Biennial, a program that includes concerts, lectures and free-entry musical activities. The official opening is scheduled for October 2nd, at 9:30 PM, at the Lorvão Monastery, with a pipe organ concert by João Henriques and a performance by the Choir of Former Orpheonists of the University of Coimbra.
The following weekend, the program coincides with the 5th National Convent Sweets Exhibition, including the International Choral Encounter on the 3rd and a solo concert by pianist Mário Laginha on Sunday, the 4th. On the holiday of October 5th, the choral-symphonic concert "Aurora" takes place, with the Vox et Communio Choir, the Mixed Choir of the University of Coimbra and the Dão Saxophone Association.
The musical program continues on subsequent weekends with bassoon and harpsichord concerts, an organ and chamber music recital, concluding on October 31st with the Punctum Saxophone Quartet, which on that day also leads a workshop for musicians from the philharmonic bands of Lorvão, Penacova and São Pedro de Alva.
According to the mayor of Penacova, Álvaro Coimbra, the biennial aims to contribute to the enhancement of the tangible and intangible heritage of the municipality, through the connection between music, knowledge, sweets and tourism. The program also includes tasting of traditional sweets, workshops on recreating toothpick manufacturing, presentation of the convent chocolate "Sin of the Convent," activities for families and children, and a series of three lectures on the historical organ of the Lorvão Monastery and Portuguese sweets traditions.
