Luís de Matos

Luis de Matos
File:Luís de Matos.jpg
Born	Luis Manuel Curcialeiro Godinho de Matos (1970-08-23) August 23, 1970 Lourenço Marques, Portuguese Mozambique
Nationality	Portuguese
Occupation	Magician
Website	www.luisdematos.com

Luis de Matos (born 23 August 1970) is a Portuguese magician. With Lu Chen and Dynamo he was co-winner of the "Golden Grolla" in 2013. He is the youngest magician ever to receive "The Devant Award" from the The Magic Circle (October 19, 2013).

Early years

Luis de Matos was born in Portuguese Mozambique in 1970, a Portuguese overseas province until 1975. At the age of five he moved with his parents to Portugal where the family settled near the city of Coimbra.

Luis de Matos has a Bachelor's degree (B.Ag) in agricultural technical engineering from Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra (ESAC) part of the Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra (IPC).

Career

Luis de Matos is a professional magician in Portugal. He began making guest appearances on television in 1990 and two years later hosted his own television series entitled "Isto é Magia!" ("This is Magic"). This was followed by several other magic successful TV shows including "Noite Mágica", "Ilusões com Luis de Matos”, "Luis de Matos Ao Vivo", "Shalakabula", "Mistérios" a 13 x 1 hour series for RTP1 in Portugal.

Luis de Matos has made appearances and started as a regular in TV shows worldwide like "Shalakabula" in Spain, BBC "The Magicians", most recently starting in its latest Spanish version "Por Arte de Magia". Nowadays he is currently ongoing its 9th season as a regular on TVG TV show "Luar".

Throughout the years he won several important prizes such as the Magician of the Year (Hollywood Academy of Magic Arts − 1999) and the Mandrake D'or (French Society of Magicians − 2000).

Quoting his Award of Merit (Hollywood Academy of Magic Arts − 1995):

In recognition of his remarkable devotion to the art of magic. His television series "Isto é Magia" and "Noite Mágica" brought legions of new fans to the art. An accomplished magician and illusionist he has brought dozens of international stars of magic before his television audience to share their talent and their knowledge of magical history. In his career he will touch millions and instill in them his love for magic.

Nowadays Luis de Matos still has a major contribution to the promotion of Magic and Art producing a series of Street Magic Festivals, occurring every year throughout the country (Portugal). In this festivals he brings literally dozens of great performers from all over the world to amaze and entertain the most varied audiences.

In 2010, in collaboration with David Britland and Marco Tempest, Luis de Matos organized the Essential Magic Conference, the first and only (so far) online magic conference. This conference was held in Studio 33 in Portugal, where 33 magic celebrities learned, shared and collaborated with the worldwide magic community. The original concept was to carry out the conference for another two years, which they did successfully. During the last year of the conference, nearly 2000 people "attended" from around 75 countries of the world.

Television

• 1990. First professional appearance on RTP1 Christmas Special ('Natal dos Hospitais') as the ceremony's host.
• 1991. Hosts a ten minute spot on a morning show called 'Espaço Mágico' (13 episodes) on RTP1.
• 1992. Writes and hosts 'Isto é Magia' ('This is Magic') series (40 episodes) on RTP1.
• 1991. Participates as game show host on 'Caça ao Tesouro' ('Treasure Hunt') for 96 episodes on RTP1.
• 1992. Writes and hosts 'Isto é Magia' ('This is Magic') (26 episodes) on RTP1.
• 1994. Writes and hosts 'Noite Mágica' ('Magic Night') (26 episodes) on RTP1.
• 1994. Hosts live with Ana do Carmo Festival da Canção on RTP1.
• 1995. Hosts a Portuguese talk show 'Domingo em Cheio!' (10 episodes) on RTP1.
• 1995. Participates on the 'Magiskt Show', Sweden; 'World's Greatest Magic', NBC; 'Champions of Magic', ABC.
• 1996. Writes, produces and hosts 'Ilusões com Luis de Matos' (26 episodes) on RTP1 having Sónia Araújo as his assistant.
• 1996. Participates for the second time at Monaco's 'Champions of Magic', produced by ABC.
• 2001. Writes, produces and hosts 'Luis de Matos Ao Vivo' (13 episodes) on RTP1.
• 2005. Hosts with Catarina Furtado, live on RTP1 the 'Gala Pirilampo Mágico' (Portuguese famous gala show).
• 2006. 'Luis de Matos 3D' (TV Special) on RTP1.
• 2006. Participates as regular on the Spanish TV Show 'Shalakabula' (21 episodes).
• 2006. Begins his weekly participation on Spanish TV Show 'Luar' on TVG, which is still ongoing (currently in it's 9th Season of participation).
• 2008. Writes, produces and hosts 'Mistérios' (13 episodes) on RTP1.
• 2009. Participates in several international TV Shows: 'Surprise, Surprise' (Romania) and 'Le Plus Grand Cabaret Du Monde' (France).
• 2011. The Magicians, (5 TV Specials) for BBC.
• 2011. Participates on RTP1 live gala show 'PORTUGAL APLAUDE' dedicated to arts.
• 2012. This is Magic, (2 TV Shows) recorded for MBC South Korea.
• 2013. Por Arte de Magia recorded in Spain for Antena 3.

Tour

• 1999. "A Magia de Luis de Matos" ("Luis de Matos Magic"/"Mobile Theatre Tour") - first national tour (Portugal), 45 cities, 245 shows took place in a special venue created and designed by Luis de Matos called “Teatro Móvel” ("Mobile Theatre").
• 2001. "Utopia" - 12.000 spectators audience at Pavilhão Atlântico, Lisbon.
• 2002. "Luis de Matos CLOSE-UP" - touring Portugal and Spain for seven years.
• 2004. "Luis de Matos ENIGMA" - touring Portugal and Spain for five years.
• 2012. "Luis de Matos CHAOS" - currently touring Portugal and Spain.
• 2014. "The Illusionists 2.0" - premieres December 2013.

Releases

Books

• "O Mundo Mágico de Luis de Matos" ("Luis de Matos Magic World") | Publisher Gradiva | 1995 - Author.
• "Hocus Pocus" by Paul Kieve | Publisher Dom Quixote | 2009 - Preface by Luis de Matos.

DVDs

• "Luis de Matos HOME TOUR" | released and distributed by Jornal de Notícias | 2002 - Author; Producer.
• "Enciclopédia Mágica" | released and distributed by Jornal de Notícias | 2003 - Author; Producer.
• “Luis de Matos EXTREME Human Body Stunts for Professionals” | Essential Magic Collection | 2009 - Author; Producer.
• "The Magic Square" | Essential Magic Collection | 2011 - Author; Producer.
• "The Egg Bag" | Essential Magic Collection | 2013 - Author; Producer.

Magic Kits

• "Luis de Matos MAGICUS" | Includes Original DVD | 2011 | Concentra.
• "Isto é Magia!" | 2006 | Concentra.
• "SCHHH... Isto é Segredo!" | Includes Original VHS | Frenesim.

Awards

Luis de Matos at The Magic Circle Awards in October 2013.

• 1986 - "Best Newcomer" Award - "7th International Magic Festival" at Figueira da Foz (Portugal)
• 1987 - Second Place in "Close-Up" - "1st Magic National Congress" at Figueira da Foz (Portugal)
• 1989 - Winner in "Manipulation" at the "2nd Magic National Congress" at Figueira da Foz (Portugal)
• 1995 - "Award of Merit" - Hollywood Academy of Magical Arts
• 1996 - "Troféu Nova Gente" - People's Choice (Portugal)
• 1998 - "The Merlin Award, Best Close-Up Magician” - International Magicians Society
• 1999 - "Magician of the Year" - Hollywood Academy of Magical Arts
• 1999 - “Mandrake d’Or” - French Academy of Illusionists (Paris, France)
• 2010 - "The Merlin Award, Magician Of The Decade" - International Magicians Society
• 2013 - "Special Fellowship Award" - Hollywood Academy of Magical Arts
• 2013 - "Magic Golden Grolla, Il grande rivoluzionario della magia” - The Masters of Magic (Italy)
• 2013 - Luis de Matos was awarded with The Golden Medal of the City of Coimbra (Portugal)
• 2013 - "The Devant Award" - The Magic Circle (London)

References

• Opus Magazine
• Magic Magazine
• Genii Magazine
• Luis de Matos on MagicPedia

External links

• Luis de Matos Official website
• Luis de Matos Sapo Vídeos
• Luis de Matos Facebook
• Luis de Matos Twitter
• Luis de Matos Instagram
• Luis de Matos WhoSay
• Luis de Matos Vimeo
• Luis de Matos YouTube
• Essential Magic Conference
• Essential Magic Collection