QUEM É O JOSÉ VALENTE / WHO IS JOSÉ VALENTE

The new album

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Considered one of the most innovative violists in Portugal and Europe, the awarded musician José Valente comes back with a new solo album.

Released end 2024, by the label Respirar de Ouvido, “Quem é José Valente” represents a vast multiplicity of musical directions that transport the viola, considered a classical instrument, to unexpected places and opportunities. José’s music unfolds into countless realities and styles, questioning several aesthetic opinions or playing around with concepts such as identity and novelty. “Quem é José Valente” is an unprecendented, happy and irreverent album, where José Valente’s viola travels between all possible musical genres, with traces and clues that go from Zappa to Beethoven, simply to, in essence, say: “music is the best!”

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José Valente is an award-winning composer and violist. He has a PhD in Contemporary Art with distinction and unanimity by the University of Coimbra. Concert highlights: Carnegie Hall (guest soloist by Paquito d’Rivera); Union Square Park (solo concert); Imaxinasons Festival; Maria Matos Theater, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation; Bookaroo Festival (India), Rauf R. Denktas Cultur and Congress Center in Famagusta (Cyprus); Casa da Música (Porto), Manchester School of Theater (UK). He worked, among others, with Don Byron and Dave Douglas. He composed “Passaporte” for viola solo, a commission by Antena 2 / RTP for the 32nd Edition of the Prémio Jovens Músicos Award. His album “Serpente Infinita”, recorded by invitation of Musibéria, received 5/5 stars by jazz.pt magazine, was included in the list of albums of the year from the same publication, and in several individual lists from critics. "Serpente Infinita" was awarded with the Prémio Carlos Paredes 2019 Award. He is the co-creator of the children's show “Os Figos são para quem passa” commissioned by Teatro São Luiz. He composed "Trabalho, Palavra, Som e Preguiça" in collaboration with Gonçalo M. Tavares and Paulo Mendes, a commission from MAAT – Museum for Art, Architecture and Technology. In 2021 José has premiered Trégua, the first ever album for viola and marching band. Trégua won the GDA’s funding for phonographic edition and the DGArtes funding for new creations and was an Antena 2 album. His album Águas paradas não movem moinhos, for his viola sextet 6 Violas, is an homage to José Mário Branco, and has been on the road since its release in 2022. 6 Violas will be touring around Portugal in 2025, with the support from DGArtes.

José Valente is the musical director and composer of SIBILA BILINGUE, a project curated by the Museum of Porto, that establishes dialogues with the emigrant communities living in the city, for the creation new poetic musical works. The first edition of Sibila Bilingue was awarded with the ICOM and the APOM awards for social and museological excellency.

​​His latest and 5th album QUEM É O JOSÉ VALENTE (who is José Valente), was recently released and has already received significant media attention from SIC Tv channel, RTP, Público, Porto Canal, Antena 3, Revista Caras, Glam Magazine, Rua de Baixo, Antena 2, Esectv and Comunidade Cultura e Arte.