Rui Massena was introduced to music at a very young age. He played the first piano piece at the age of five, was eight when he created his first composition, and has been working as a conductor since the age of 27. That was about the time Rui took up the Artistic Direction and the role of Principal Conductor in Madeira’s Classical Orchestra, a position he kept for 12 years.
Between 2001 and 2013, Massena premiered dozens of works, and conducted over 30 national and international notorious orchestras in world-renowned concert halls in 14 countries. In 2010, the ‘European Capital of Culture – Guimarães 2012’ chose Massena to program the Music Cluster of the project, a body of work that he began developing in 2010 and through which he founded the Orchestra ‘Fundação Orquestra Estúdio’. Massena has also conducted, written and arranged in symphonic language for countless artists. Music was always the centerpiece of Rui Massena’s life.
After thirteen years of non-stop weekly conducting, Massena made the decision to finally give space to his old composing dream.
Since 2015, he started a solo career with his own compositions as a Universal Music Artist, and launched three albums and an EP until April 2021. His music is enjoyed by fans from over 90 countries and Rui Massena has been selected as a contemporary global talent by the prestigious publisher ‘Deutsche Grammophon’.
In 2019, Massena made his debut in film scoring in the short film “Carnaval Sujo”, directed by José Miguel Moreira, and composed and performed the soundtrack for two TV Films (2021), “Esperança” directed by Cláudia Clemente and “Medo” directed by Patríca Sequeira, included in the film trilogy “Na Porta ao Lado”, focusing on the scourge of domestic violence.
In 2021, was awarded with the Gold Medal of Cultural and Scientific Merit, from the city of Porto, in recognition of his continued contribution to the city. This medal joins many others Rui has been awarded throughout his carrer, including the Gold Medal os Cultural and Scientific Merit from his hometown, as well as the Medal of Cultural Merit of Brazil’s Academy of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
Rui Massena’s music is today alongside great composers such as Philip glass and Ludovico Einaudi, with one of their compositions, Valsa, is part of the compilation ‘EXPO 1’ by Deutsche Grammophon, which features music by leading composers ‘Neo-Classics’ nowadays. In 2021, invited by the publisher, alongside Maria João Pires and 15 other world-class performers and composers, participated in the World Piano Day 21 festival, broadcasted all around the world.
Today, Rui works as a conductor, composer, producer and performer, based in his studio, near Granja’s beach, in the creative city of Porto. He plays and conduct his music live in concert halls all around the world.
