Biography

Birth
Miguel Rivotti was born in Aveiro on 19th January, at 10.45 pm.

Education
At just the age of four he joined the children’s class at the Regional Music Conservatory “Caloust Gulbenkian” in Aveiro. Here he was provided with a wide artistic education that included Musical Education, Piano, Singing, Classical Dancing, Plastic Art and Dramatic Representation lessons.

Between classical recitals and sculpture and painting exhibitions he soon acquired important values such as learning to listen, to see, and to appreciate art as a divine means of communication and as an expression of feelings and emotions. Fascinated by the magic of sounds, he spent much of his time playing the piano, where he combined different sounds that arose from this mysterious instrument.

Supported by his parents and his maternal grandparents he started participating in several children’s contests, some of which he won. Music was already part of his daily routine.

Miguel was passionate about the field of the humanities and studied three classical languages: Latin, Greek and Hebrew. As soon as he finished the Conservatory in October 1988, Miguel moved to Coimbra and enrolled in the Philosophical and Theological Studies degree which he concluded in July 1992.

The Portuguese Revolution and the Revolutionary Songs
Among the thousands of red carnations that surrounded the Conservatory and free white doves that flew over the city, the elderly usually asked Miguel to sing the songs of freedom that were playing on the radio and on television. It was the April 25th, 1974 – Portugal was living Liberty.

Festivals
In 1987, and for the first time, Miguel participated in the RTP Song Contest (Portuguese Song Contest) with the song “Penso em Ti” (“Thinking about you”) – his music and lyrics.

In 1993, he participated for the 2nd time in the RTP Song Contest with the ballad “Amor Encantado” (“Enchanted love”) written by Toy Ferrão.

Performative Art

Still as a student he took part in many public events playing in classical concerts, directing choirs, playing organ and as a folk singer in popular feasts.

Miguel was particularly praised for his skills as an organist in the accompanying and concert performing classes. He even cooperated in the construction and assembly of a pipe-organ in Aveiro, during the inauguration of which he was the main organist.

Broadway
In one of his performances as a singer, in 1989, Miguel met José Paiva and Jorge Silva (Jica), well-known managers from Coimbra, who helped him promote his shows and put together a live band.
From that moment on he performed in many Portuguese stages with the prestigious light orchestra BROADWAY, gaining more and more experience as a singer.

Teaching Experience
In 1992, Miguel started teaching Musical Education in the city of Leiria and at the same time he developed his career as a singer.
Since then, whether at school or through his shows, he tries to develop the love for music among youngsters.

Debut Album “Miguel Rivotti”
The popularity of the singer among the audience was increasingly high (due to his participation in the 1993 Song Contest), so the opportunity of recording his debut album finally came through.
In May 1993 he released the eponymous album “Miguel Rivotti”. Two singles were taken from this album in 45 r.p.m.

In the summer of that same year his national tour was a huge success because of the popularity of the songs, which were also television and radio hits. Some artists began to sing these songs.

The years from 1996 till 2000 were filled with professional accomplishment.

Golden Record
On 14th November 1996, Miguel Rivotti started recording the album “Toca Toca Toca (“Play, Play, Play”) under the supervision of the musician and composer Ricardo Landum. The album and the promotional videoclip were launched on 3rd March 1997. This Portuguese popular music album, with a high number of sales, reached Golden Record and songs like “Toca Toca Toca (“Play Play Play”), “Festa de Sábado à Noite” (“Saturday Night Party”) and “Quando foste embora” (“When you left”) turned this album into one of the most requested on Portuguese radios.

Miguel’s editor invited him to participate in the recording of some songs to be included in two collections – “Todos de Mãos Dadas” (“Everyone shake hands”) and “Férias é Fundamental” (“Holidays. It’s crucial”).

Platinum Record
His life and studio experiences along with suggestions from his fans, influenced Miguel to record the album “Comprometida” (“Compromised”), also under the supervision of Ricardo Landum. The recording began in September 1998 and the album was released in February 1999. It was an inevitable success! The audience was already expecting news from the singer.

By rennovating his musical background and self-image, Miguel reached the top places of the national chart and participated in several Portuguese and international television and radio programs.

The album “Comprometida” (“Compromised”) went platinum and Miguel Rivotti is a renowned international artist.

The album’s promotional videoclip had an excellent acceptance among the audience and television production teams. For four months this romantic latin videoclip assured its place on the Portuguese music channel SOL, receiving enthusiastic reviews, as well as praise from viewers and national and foreign press.

Miguel was invited to participate in many Portuguese and foreign entertainment programs including radio and television. He has already been to Canada, Brazil and European countries to join live concerts in tours organised for Portuguese and foreign spectators.

The singer was also asked to take part in social events and benefactor shows, as well as in publicity, fashion shows and gala presentations.

Limited Edition of the single “Emoções”
In 2000, he recorded a limited edition of the single “Emoções” (“Emotions”) just for the media and his Fan Club.

First Musical Hit (2003/04)
In 2003/04, Miguel accepted an invitation to fulfil an old dream: writing a musical. Having accepted the challenge, he wrote both argument and music and directed the musical comedy “ Socorro… não quero casar!” (“Help… I don’t want to get married”). This great production involved 185 people and received the best critics from the audience and media. During several weeks this musical was performed in the Cine-Theatre of Pombal and it was sold out.

Second Musical Hit (2004/05)
Due to the success of his first musical he accepted a second challenge to create a new project: the musical “Na Estação à tua espera… um século a recordar” (“At the station waiting for you… remembering a century”), an homage to the most influential Portuguese celebrities of theatre, cinema and music throughout the twentieth century. Following the footsteps of the first production, he took the team from the previous project: actors, production team, musicians, dancers, scenographers, singers, among many others. It was sold out during May, June and July 2005 and famous people from Portuguese society were in the audience, which was a great honour. Miguel considered this experience crucial for his activity as a singer and an encounter with an artistic area he was not used to.

Recognition
In September 2005, he accepted an invitation to be the Portuguese representative (Commissioner) of the Royal Academy of Arts and Spectacle in Strasbourg.

Recording an Acoustic Album
Despite the experiences lived so far, Miguel felt he still had a lot to offer to Portuguese music.
Having developed his artistic maturity, in 2006 he engaged himself in the recording of an Acoustic Album, which had already been requested by his fans, supporters and friends.

International Promotion
In January Miguel signed a European managing contract with French artist agent, who guaranteed an international promotion for the singer.

In 2017, the singer has prepared a new tour entitled “Contrasts … of myself” which includes songs from his new album as well as some of the previous hits.

Their live concerts included a repertoire of songs ranging from romantic Latin rhythms to the Portuguese pop-rock trends of their album.
At his performances there are people from all age groups.
Miguel is naturally easy-going and funny and he is used to managing huge crowds, and you cannot avoid being struck by his hot rhythms and dance music at his concerts.
He makes it a priority to be accompanied by renowned musicians who have participated in TV shows. Miguel Rivotti has a staff of well-known show business people.

After 25 years as a professional singer, Miguel still concentrates on innovating the shape, structure and sonority of his concerts.

His current tour is a grand musical, scenic and multimedia production. Miguel Rivotti wants the audience to watch his shows and admire the latest light and sound technologies.