“Luís Cunha distinguishes as an interpreter of great emotional wealth and stylistic understanding, tender and deep sonority and excellent technical apparatus.”Zorya Chikhmourzaeva
The début of Luís Cunha in Lisbon’s Theatre S.Luíz had a remarkable impact in Portuguese musical life. From Moscow returned a young man capable of assuming on stage the explosive potential of Russian’s legendary violin school — dexterity in the bow-arm, unexpected solutions in the technique and expressiveness of the articulation that account for the extreme precision of the tuning. (…) ” Maestro José Atalaya, 1992
“The Fantasy ” Il Trovatore “, by Francisco Sá Noronha, for violin and orchestra, work where violinist Luís Cunha has demonstrated his technical dexterity and a remarkable sound quality. ” Cristina Fernandes, Publico, 1998
” …a version full of vivacity and sensibility… ” Manuel Pedro Ferreira, reviewing the CD ” The Four Seasons “, Publico, 2000
He performs as recitalist, chamber musician and soloist in most Portuguese towns, in Spain, France, Switzerland and Germany. He has also successfully toured Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland, URSS/Russia and Angola and has recorded for several Portuguese radio and TV networks (RDP, RTP, TVI) and Gossteleradio (Russia). Luís has completed a Master of Arts degree in the Moscow Tchaikovsky’s Conservatoire, where he majored under Professor Zorya Chikhmourzaeva. There, he studied quartet and chamber music under Mikhail Kopelman (Borodin Quartet),
Nikolai Zabavnikov (Beethoven Quartet) and Tigran Alikhanov. A scholarship by the Portuguese state accounted for several years of training at both the International Menhuin Music Academy (Gstaad – Switzerland) and in London, with Yossi Zivoni. He has perfected in master-classes with artists such as Sandor Végh, Yehudi Menhuin and Maria João Pires. He also attended master-classes in orchestra conducting with JeanSébastien Béreau e Adriano Martinolli.
Alongside his appearances as a solo violinist – Sá Noronha’ Fantasia “Il Trovatore” from – CD for BMG/RCA Classics; Vivaldi’s ” Four Seasons ” – CD for “BAJJA Records”-, and chamber musician – he is a founding member of the Lopes-Graça String Quartet, an ensemble specialized in the rendering of Portuguese music, with several releases for Toccata Classics, featuring the chamber music of Fernando Lopes-Graça and Joly Braga Santos – , he promotes, and performs, in a number of multi-disciplinary activities: he has staged several musicals and operas and has recently conducted versions of Gluck’s Orfeo and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Off classics he has collaborated with the singer Mísia on tours worldwide.
Luís Cunha teaches violin and chamber music in the National Conservatory School of Music, in Lisbon – Portugal. He also tought violin’s history and pedagogy in Évora’s University, coaching music teachers. He is at present the director of ZezereArts Festival strings master-classes.