Vera Morais and Margarida Prates, both soloists with the Cascais and Oeiras Chamber Orchestra (OCCO), began their project as a duo, having made their debut in 2019, in the midst of the pandemic, in a concert broadcast via live streaming.
They were then invited to perform in Portugal and abroad, notably in Germany and Luxembourg. As a result of the success achieved there, the duo was invited to other international performances and to give masterclasses as flute and piano teachers in Springiersbach – Bengel, Germany.
The duo's stylistically eclectic repertoire includes works by J.S. Bach to the 20th century, as well as the lesser-known repertoire of women composers.
In 2024, Duo Scherzo was invited to promote an interdisciplinary series of commented concerts at the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, combining the art of ceramics and music. This project gave rise to the PONTES ARTÍSTICAS (artistic connections cycle), which consists of a series of commented concerts, preceded by partial guided visits to the museum, relating the musical programs and the museum pieces. Other editions of the cycle are already underway, the first of which will be held in 2026 at the Casa Museu Anastácio Gonçalves, in Lisbon.
One of Duo Scherzo's main concerns is to help the public get closer to classical music: the concerts are commented and accompanied by concert papers with details about the music and their composers.
Currently, Margarida Prates and Vera Morais are enthusiastically exploring new repertoires, with the aim of continuing to work on a variety of projects that promote musical culture, in Portugal and abroad.