About
António Saiote, born on 14 July 1960 in Loures, Portugal, has made a significant impact on the history of the clarinet in Portugal. He graduated from the National Conservatory in 1979 with a perfect score under the guidance of Professor Marcos Romão. Furthering his studies, he received a scholarship from the Gulbenkian Foundation to study in Paris with Guy Deplus and Jacques Lancelot, and in Munich with Gerd Starke, where he earned the Meisterdiplom from the Hochschule of Munich with distinction.
Saiote completed a Postgraduate course in Contemporary Music at the University of Alcalá de Henares in Spain with Artur Tamayo and in Traditional Repertoire in England with Georges Hurst, who considered him one of the most brilliant students to pass through the Canford Academy. He also earned a Master's in Orchestra Conducting from the University of Sheffield.
A key figure in the clarinet world, António Saiote co-organised Porto's 2009 World Clarinet Congress and served as the artistic director of the Guimarães Festival and Academy. He is currently the artistic director of the ESMAE Symphony Orchestra and the Marcos Romão International Clarinet Meeting, and a founding member of the Ópera Norte.
Saiote is a celebrated pedagogue, soloist, and conductor, frequently collaborating with the Venezuelan System of Youth and Children's Orchestras. His career has taken him to over thirty countries across Asia, Europe, America, and North Africa.
He is multilingual, fluent in Spanish, Italian, French, German, Polish, and English, enhancing his global influence in the music industry.
Professor
António Saiote has taught at numerous conservatories and universities in Portugal, including Coimbra, Figueira da Foz, Castelo Branco, Lisbon, Évora Academy, University of Aveiro, Porto Catholic University, and the Lisbon School of Music. He has also conducted seminars and masterclasses at prestigious institutions worldwide, including universities and conservatories in Gdansk, Freiburg, Munich, Marseille, São Paulo, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Yangi, and various academies and festivals.
His students are prominent in all Portuguese orchestras and have won international awards, teaching at top schools. He has taught students from more than 30 nationalities and was a lecturer at the Porto School of Music and Performing Arts (ESMAE).
Soloist
António Saiote has been a soloist with the Youth Symphony Orchestra since 1973 and represented Portugal in the World Youth Orchestra multiple times. He was a soloist with the São Carlos National Theatre Orchestra and the Régie Sinfonia, and a member of the Lisbon Contemporary Music Group with Jorge Peixinho. He founded and inspired various chamber music groups, including the Porto Soloists.
Saiote has performed with a wide range of orchestras and ensembles globally, including the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Portuguese Symphony, Porto Classical Orchestra, and many others. He was a guest soloist at world congresses and has performed at numerous international festivals.
Conductor
Since 1998, António Saiote has developed a successful career as a conductor, leading all major Portuguese orchestras as well as international ones like the Municipal Orchestra of Madrid, Simón Bolívar, Flanders Philharmonic, and Zurich Symphony. He is the principal conductor of the ESMAE Symphony Orchestra, known for its nationally and internationally acclaimed live recordings. He has conducted numerous operas and has served as a jury member at prestigious competitions worldwide.
Distinctions
- Honorary Member of the International Clarinet Association
- Latin American Clarinet Personality by the Clariperu Association
- Medal of Honour from the city of Loures
- Commander of the Order of Infante D. Henrique by the President of the Portuguese Republic in 2023
Discography
- "Clarinete do Nosso Tempo" with Pedro Burmester for Saphir
- Concertos by Kurpinsky and Canongia for Numérica
- Portuguese Composers for Strauss
- Clarinet Quartet for Transmedia
- "A Portrait" with Michiko Tsuda for Pan Classics
- "Clarinete Em Fado"
- Bolcom Concerto with Symphony Orchestra and with Canto
Collaborations
Saiote has performed with notable personalities such as Jorge Peixinho, Olga Pratts, Gerardo Ribeiro, Anabela Chaves, Elizabeth Matos, Irene Lima, António Rosado, Pedro Burmester, Gerard Caussé, Luciano Pavarotti, Edita Gruberova, and many others.
Press Acclaim
António Saiote has received high praise from critics for his performances, noted for his intelligent delineation of sound planes, expressive phrasing, and virtuosic brilliance. His conducting has been described as refined, clear, expressive, and elegant, highlighting his competence, musicality, and charisma.
António Saiote is a Backun Artist and performs on Backun Lumière Clarinets and Accessories.
