Terras Sem Sombra Festival kicks off in Arronches with the Zarębski Piano Duo, an ensemble from Kraków

This year's season of the Terras Sem Sombra Festival begins this weekend, February 28 and March 1, in Arronches, featuring musicians from Poland, the guest country for the 2026 edition. The performers are the Zarębski Piano Duo, consisting of exceptional pianists Grzegorz Mania and Piotr Różański, whose remarkable careers place them at the forefront of international music. Their recent tours in the USA have been a sensation. The concert features a single piano played four-handed, showcasing works by Polish and Portuguese female composers from the 20th and 21st centuries, paying tribute to the often-overlooked role of women in contemporary creation. This rare opportunity, combined with the historic setting of the Arronches parish church, a national monument and a reference piece of Manueline architecture, makes the occasion particularly special. The festival is expanding to include new municipalities and will venture slightly beyond the Alentejo this year. The Terras Sem Sombra Festival represents a significant musical season for the Alentejo, Portugal's largest region, which has never had such a comprehensive cultural offering. It is set to cover around 30 locations each year, with new additions like Alcácer do Sal and returning towns such as Grândola, Santiago do Cacém, and Viana do Alentejo in 2026. There will also be two mystery concerts in mystery municipalities. The opera Maria Stuart in Beja promises to be a highlight, as opera is rarely staged in the Alentejo. This production, composed by Martin Hennessy and based on a libretto by Irma Correa, draws from a biography by Stefan Zweig and aligns perfectly with the festival's programmatic focus. It presents a modern interpretation of a queen's life who did not yield under the weight of the crown, addressing contemporary themes such as despotic power, violence, and disregard for others. The collaboration with Fundación La Joven brings a brilliant cast that has already triumphed at the Teatro Real in Madrid. The festival is also expanding to Asturias and reviving the International Terras Sem Sombra Award, aimed at honouring individuals or institutions that have excelled globally in promoting music, cultural heritage, and biodiversity. The festival is committed to bridging cultural access disparities and combating the centralist tendencies of the state, which often overlooks the interior regions of Portugal. Following Arronches, Santiago do Cacém will host the International Terras Sem Sombra Award ceremony on March 28, which will now include new categories for International Cooperation/Public Service and Sounds without Shadow/New Talents, signalling a renewal. The award is presided over by Princess D. Maria Francisca de Bragança, Duchess of Coimbra, a young and engaged figure representing a more complete Portugal. The festival also features American contralto Ellen Rabiner performing in Barrancos as part of the Terras Sem Sombra initiative.