by Nicos Legakis
www.goculture.gr, November 27, 2007
A magnificent voice finally meets with the Greek audience at Pallas Theatre.
When, as a youngster, Mariza used to tell her friends she liked to sing fado most of them told her that this music is just for old people. Brought up by a Portuguese father, who always preferred male to female vocalists, and a Mozambican mother who brought her closer to various music traditions such as African or Brazilian, Mariza Reis Nunes had to explore diverse musical paths before taking the role she's in nowadays - that of the modern priestess of fado. With a luggage full of world acclaim and a powerful wish to perform before the Greek audience, Mariza sings for a unique evening at Pallas Theatre, Athens, on November 26.
Born in Mozambique, Mariza returned to her father's homeland in 1977, after the fall of the Salazar regime. Her family settles in Mouraria, which along with Alfama, Madragoa and Bairro Alto constitute the Lisbon districts where the urban song of Portugal was born. At that time fado was already in a rather difficult position because of its unfortunate connection with the dictator who chose fado, soccer and the Virgin Mary as means to reinforce the nationalistic conscience of Portuguese people - the Fado, Futebol and Fátima triplet still appears to haunt the country of big discoveries, many years after the transformation of its political reality. As a consequence Mariza reduced her activity regarding the music she loves the most with the exception of her unprogrammed appearances in her parents' tavern.
Later she further limited her contact with the genre to becoming simply a listener. She traveled to Brazil in search of the sound that suited her and left fado behind. As soon as she returned after some six months she began performing in casinos and piano bars and cultivating her vocal abilities in diverse genres such as pop, jazz and soul. Eventually, a series of accidental meetings brought her to Senhor Vinho, one of the most renowned Fado houses of Lisbon. Its owner, distinguished fadista Maria da Fé, gave her the opportunity to perform there regularly on Mondays and Maria Lisboa became her theme song which Mariza still sings in the context of her live shows throughout the world.
Like many artists in Portugal she was confronted by the skepticism inside her own country, so she decided to release her first album under a Dutch label. Soon, Fado em mim (2001) will turn triple platinum. From that point on things took the path that led Mariza to what she is today: an internationally established fado and world music singer. A priestess? A fado princess? A Diva? For sure an important vocalist whose performance can move practically anyone, anywhere.
www.goculture.gr, November 27, 2007
A magnificent voice finally meets with the Greek audience at Pallas Theatre.
When, as a youngster, Mariza used to tell her friends she liked to sing fado most of them told her that this music is just for old people. Brought up by a Portuguese father, who always preferred male to female vocalists, and a Mozambican mother who brought her closer to various music traditions such as African or Brazilian, Mariza Reis Nunes had to explore diverse musical paths before taking the role she's in nowadays - that of the modern priestess of fado. With a luggage full of world acclaim and a powerful wish to perform before the Greek audience, Mariza sings for a unique evening at Pallas Theatre, Athens, on November 26.
Born in Mozambique, Mariza returned to her father's homeland in 1977, after the fall of the Salazar regime. Her family settles in Mouraria, which along with Alfama, Madragoa and Bairro Alto constitute the Lisbon districts where the urban song of Portugal was born. At that time fado was already in a rather difficult position because of its unfortunate connection with the dictator who chose fado, soccer and the Virgin Mary as means to reinforce the nationalistic conscience of Portuguese people - the Fado, Futebol and Fátima triplet still appears to haunt the country of big discoveries, many years after the transformation of its political reality. As a consequence Mariza reduced her activity regarding the music she loves the most with the exception of her unprogrammed appearances in her parents' tavern.
Later she further limited her contact with the genre to becoming simply a listener. She traveled to Brazil in search of the sound that suited her and left fado behind. As soon as she returned after some six months she began performing in casinos and piano bars and cultivating her vocal abilities in diverse genres such as pop, jazz and soul. Eventually, a series of accidental meetings brought her to Senhor Vinho, one of the most renowned Fado houses of Lisbon. Its owner, distinguished fadista Maria da Fé, gave her the opportunity to perform there regularly on Mondays and Maria Lisboa became her theme song which Mariza still sings in the context of her live shows throughout the world.
Like many artists in Portugal she was confronted by the skepticism inside her own country, so she decided to release her first album under a Dutch label. Soon, Fado em mim (2001) will turn triple platinum. From that point on things took the path that led Mariza to what she is today: an internationally established fado and world music singer. A priestess? A fado princess? A Diva? For sure an important vocalist whose performance can move practically anyone, anywhere.
