Notes on the Stage Music of Jorge Peixinho: Contributions Towards a Dialogue Between Theatre and Music

ABSTRACT Jorge Peixinho (1940–1995) was one of the most significant Portuguese composers of the second half of the twentieth century. His work encompasses several genres but focuses, in particular, on avant-garde chamber music. Between 1964 and 1993, Peixinho collaborated with several theatre directors, composing music for their productions, as well as writing music for other genres such as performance art, ‘happenings’, and some of the most innovative mixed-media experiments in Portugal at the time. During this period, avant-garde theatre and music were two worlds that were mutually unaware of each other. Avant-garde theatrical productions sought to be in line with what was happening in Europe, but the musical accompaniment was neglected, just as it was in opera. In the Portuguese context, Jorge Peixinho’s contribution sought to fill this gap. This article seeks to contextualise Jorge Peixinho’s stage work and to compile a list of the shows for which the composer wrote music.