Matheus Donato
Six-string cavaquinho
A leading voice of Brazil’s new generation, Matheus is a virtuoso cavaquinho player, composer and bandleader. Rooted in Brazil’s vast musical heritage, his open and generous practice reaches across cultures.
Brazil · Venezuela · Europe
Two rivers. Four voices. One new musical territory.
Manoa brings the musical worlds of Brazil and Venezuela into conversation — from the Amazon to the Orinoco, from popular tradition to contemporary improvisation.
01 — The project
A meeting between traditions, shaped in the present.
MANOA Quartet brings together four musicians from Brazil and Venezuela for a contemporary reading of South American instrumental music. The unusual line-up of six-string cavaquinho, Venezuelan cuatro, piano and double bass is built around listening, rhythmic interaction and improvisation.
Choro, samba, baião and maxixe meet joropo, Venezuelan merengue and calypso. Rather than reproduce folklore literally, the quartet treats these traditions as living material — open to chamber music, jazz and the contemporary acoustic world.
The quartet
Brasil
Miguel Siso
Venezuelan cuatro
Venezuelan cuatro player, composer and producer, Miguel won the 2018 Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental Album. His music brings tradition and the avant-garde together in an authentic, universal voice for the cuatro.
Léo Montana
Piano
A Brazilian pianist shaped by Caribbean music, Brazilian traditions and jazz, Léo trained at the Paris Conservatoire and emerged with the Victoire du Jazz-winning trio Triphase. His playing is free, inventive and drawn to sonic risk.
Manuel A. Sánchez
Double bass
A Venezuelan bassist, conductor and multi-instrumentalist, Manuel combines classical rigour with the expressive traditions of his country. Trained in El Sistema and in conducting in France, his work earned two 2024 Latin Grammy nominations.
02 — On stage
Tour
Paris, FRStudio de l’ErmitageDetails+
Doors 19:30 · Concert 20:30. Ticket information coming soon.
Brussels, BELes Riches-ClairesDetails+
Concert and afternoon masterclass on Brazilian and Venezuelan traditions.
Madrid, ESCírculo de Bellas ArtesDetails+
Full quartet concert. Programme and ticket link coming soon.
03 — News & media
Press
MANOA Quartet at Les Riches-Claires — concert presentation
Coming soon
↗Brazil and Venezuela in dialogue — masterclass presentation
Coming soon
↗MANOA Quartet — press dossier
PDF · Coming soon
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04 — Work with us
Booking
MANOA is available for concert halls, chamber music and jazz festivals, world music programmes and intercultural events. Concerts can be complemented by masterclasses and educational encounters.
Booking details coming soon