Bernardo Couto

Portuguese Guitar

Bernardo Couto (Lisbon, 19 December 1979) is one of the most virtuoso guitarists of today. He started playing Portuguese guitar at the age of 14, having guitarist Carlos Gonçalves as his master. Later, he studied the instrument with Paulo Parreira, Ricardo Rocha and Pedro Caldeira Cabral.

He graduated in law, studied at the Conservatory of Music and, from 2004, began playing at Mesa de Frades, in Alfama.

Since then, Bernardo Couto has become one of the most sought-after guitarists of today, accompanying numerous artists such as António Zambujo, Camané, Cristina Branco, Carminho, Ana Moura and Raquel Tavares, travelling the stages of countries such as Spain, France, Holland, Denmark, Chile, Argentina, Hong Kong, etc.

With guitarist José Peixoto and bassist Carlos Barretto, Bernardo Couto is part of the Lisbon String Trio. Together since 2013, they edited their first album, "Matéria", in 2014, and with this first record they won the Carlos Paredes Prize awarded by the Vila Franca de Xira City Council.

In 2016 the Lisbon String Trio publishes "Lisboa" and with this work, in addition to continuing to perform throughout the country and in some festivals abroad, they are nominated for Best Disc - Authors Award 2017, awarded by the Portuguese Society of Authors.