Jazz at Monserrate – Day Pass | 11 September

Jazz at Monserrate – Day Pass | 11 September

The opening concert of Jazz at Monserrate 2026 once again embraces a distinctive format, bringing jazz into dialogue with another art form. Under this year's theme, "Other Times", the festival begins with a journey back to the origins of cinema through a screening of “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror” (1922), accompanied live by Daniel Bernardes.

More than one hundred years after its original release, this landmark of German Expressionism is revisited through a new musical interpretation created in real time. Improvisation and composition intertwine with the moving image to create an unrepeatable experience that evokes both the early history of cinema and the vitality of contemporary musical creation. It is a compelling opening event that invites audiences into the spirit of the festival through attentive listening, discovery and reflection.

Biography

• Daniel Bernardes (Alcobaça, 1986) is a pianist, composer and one of the Portuguese musicians who has most consistently explored the meeting point between jazz, classical music and improvisation. Following his initial training in classical piano and studies at the École Normale de Musique de Paris, he became the first graduate in Jazz Piano from the Lisbon School of Music, where he also completed his Master's degree. He currently teaches at the School of Music and Performing Arts in Porto.
• Throughout his career, Bernardes has developed a distinctive musical language, evident both in his own artistic projects and in the many commissions and collaborations he has undertaken. Highlights include his trio work, his partnership with the Drumming GP ensemble in projects such as ‘The Liturgy of the Birds’ and ‘Clockwork’, and his singular approach to bringing improvisation and jazz into dialogue with the music of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart, while also drawing inspiration from Portugal's musical heritage in works such as ‘O Rondó da Carpideira’ (‘The Mourner's Rondo’).
• Alongside his concert work, Bernardes has established a distinguished career as a composer for film, theatre and television. He has been a regular collaborator with director João Botelho since ‘Peregrinação’ (‘Peregrination’), and has also composed music for television series including ‘A Espia’ (‘The Spy’) and ‘Ukbar’, as well as for numerous productions by the National Theatre D. Maria II and Teatro do Bairro.
• In 2025, he received the Portuguese Society of Authors' Award for Best Classical Music Work for the album ‘City of Glass’, inspired by the work of Paul Auster.

What's Included

• Concert at 9.00 pm.
• Access to the Park of Monserrate from 7.30 pm.
• General admission to the Palace of Monserrate until 9.00 pm.

Additional Information

• Recommended for audiences aged 12 and over.
• The audience sits on the lawn, which has a steep slope.
• For greater comfort, we recommend bringing a warm layer, comfortable footwear and a blanket.
• Late admission is not permitted.
• Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded except in the event of a change of date or cancellation.
• Please plan your journey in advance according to your chosen means of transport to ensure you arrive on time.

Getting Here

• The entrance to the Park and Palace of Monserrate is located at the following coordinates: 38° 47′ 27.39″ N, 9° 24′ 40.24″ W.
• Public transport: Scotturb bus 435 and Carris Metropolitana bus 1253, both departing from Sintra railway station.
• By car: From the N247 road in Colares, follow the N375 to the Park and Palace of Monserrate.
• Parques de Sintra's responsibilities are limited to the parks and monuments under its management. The company cannot be held responsible for external circumstances, including access routes and transport services.

Credits

• Artistic Director: Inês Laginha
• Promoter: Parques de Sintra
• Patron: BPI Fundação "La Caixa"
• Support: Sintra Municipality
• Official Radio Partner: Smooth FM