Bomtempo was the son of an
Italian musician in the Portuguese court orchestra, and studied at the Music Seminary of the Patriarchal See in Lisbon. Unlike most of his contemporaries, he was not interested in
opera and, in 1801, instead of going to Italy, he traveled to
Paris, where he started a career as a virtuoso pianist. He moved to
London in 1810 and became acquainted with liberal circles in that city.
During 1822 he returned to Lisbon, and founded there a Philharmonic Society to promote public concerts of contemporary music. After the
Portuguese civil war between liberals and absolutists had resulted in a liberal victory, Bomtempo became a music teacher to the young Queen
Maria II of Portugal and first Director of the National Conservatory, created in 1835 to replace the old
Patriarchal Seminary, which had been abolished by the new liberal regime.
Bomtempo composed a vast number of concertos, sonatas, variations and fantasies for the piano. His two known symphonies are the first to be produced by a Portuguese composer. But his largest work, and probably his masterpiece, is his Requiem in memory of
Luís de Camões, which has been released on CD.
List of compositions
Op. 1 - Piano Sonata No. 1 in F major
Op. 2 - Piano Concerto No.1 in E flat major (ca. 1804)
Op. 3 - Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor (ca. 1800-1810)