Sunday 11 December at 16:00 at Quintinha da Música, near Tavira. Mauro Dilema holds a professorship at the Conservatório at Évora where he teaches piano. He also plays in concerts in various venues, and has recently returned from playing a concert in Lithuania. His programme for this concert includes the Sonata in B Minor by Liszt, the work of a genius; the Chaconne by Bach-Busoni, transcribed from a violin Partita; and Four Last Seasons by the Portuguese Eurico Carrapatoso. This concert will be our first by Mauro Dilema, and tickets at €25 are available from peterbooker1347@gmail.com

Tuesday 13 December at 18:00 at Lagoa and Friday 16 December at 11:00 at Tavira, Peter Booker discusses the life and achievements of Vasco da Gama. A recent survey among Portuguese people discovered that Gama remains the most popular figure in medieval Portuguese history, easily eclipsing Prince Henry the Navigator. It’s generally known that Gama was the first European to lead a fleet around the Cape of Good Hope and as far as India, and so establishing European domination of the oceans for the next four centuries. What do we know of the rest of his life? Does he deserve his enduring fame? Are there any skeletons in his cupboard?

History talks take place in the municipal libraries and attract a voluntary donation. Further information from peterbooker1347@gmail.com.