Cuca Roseta and Orquestra Filarmonia das Beiras celebrated music and tiles in a unique concert

Last Sunday, May 5th, Cuca Roseta took to the improvised stage at the Válega Main Church, considered one of the most beautiful in the country thanks to its tile panels, for a concert with the Orquestra Filarmonia das Beiras.
It was with a sold out crowd that the musical moment began, integrated into the extensive and diverse program of Maio do Azulejo, an event run by the Ovar City Council that, throughout this month, celebrates our heritage.

“Wow, she’s right in front of me” – it’s impossible, at least for me, to counter the almost childish feeling of seeing a figure as famous and well-known by the Portuguese people as Cuca Roseta just a few meters away. That was the feeling that triggered as soon as she entered the stage and it seemed unreal to me to see her there and not through a screen, let alone knowing that I would have the opportunity to interview her.

But all this talent and all this fame are not without foundation: from the moment we hear her mellifluous voice, we realize how unbelievable the drama it entails, how the timbre is so pure and powerful, and with an inconceivably fabulous projection – All of this adds up to a performance that is always extremely theatrical and captivating, and it becomes impossible for our attention not to be completely captured by this permeating and lively voice. In fact, this incomparable ability on the part of the singer was undeniable, and even more so adorned with an already lasting connection with the orchestra with which she performed – this partnership, as confirmed in an interview after the concert, had already been formed on previous occasions, which can be seen in the connection and cohesion visible in this show.

The first quality that I distinguished in the orchestra was the impeccable way in which the typically fado instruments were not silenced by the entire orchestral mass, but in fact included in a symbiosis, whose sound was not only unique, but also fantastic.
However, it is the orchestra that enriches every song it enters in an unforgettable way, with sounds so interesting and touching that they transform the music into something even more grand. The maestro, Jan Wierzba, conducts it in a purely and simply majestic tone, which proves incredible musicality, as well as versatility, by a maestro who was not exposed to this type of music from an early age, but which gives it a character of praise.

As the concert progresses, we confirm the singer’s tremendously impressive musicality, with such a vast and moving expressiveness, surrounded by such an immersive orchestra that adds an almost cinematic character. Combined with an unmistakable presence, and with such a strong feeling and involvement, it is impossible not to be touched by each and every note of the fado singer.

The impression we get is that when Cuca sings, she enters a world of her own, a world that is so hers, it transcends into a universe so intense, fey, a celestial and living world in which only she has the key to open its portal. And how intense the experience is when the singer lets us into her world. It is really clear what Cuca intends to convey when she states that fado was her “destiny”, as if the entire genre was made especially for her.

The orchestra adds such a tender and engaging timbre to the music, and the percussion was really relevant for the way it added a fresh and innovative touch – in fact, another interesting aspect in the field of rhythm, and which I found very curious, was the deconstruction of what a A certain character, a certain ethos, demands a certain tempo. It was particularly interesting how this notion was broken, always maintaining a fluid rhythm even in the most melancholic parts. As we are told in an interview with the artists, “everything is achieved with a good arranger”, and there is no doubt about that when listening to such a wonderfully achieved orchestration – and, furthermore, which complements the singer so well, which ensures that always She loved singing with an orchestra, in addition to clearly remembering listening to classical orchestral or operatic pieces as a child that would inspire her in the future.

It is in the guitar playing (one of my favorite parts of the concert) that we see enormous proficiency in the guitarists and bassist who accompany Cuca, with a clear command of their instruments, but impressively versed in the harmonic language to which the genre is subject. With a delicious flavor of improvisation, such an acute representation of what fado is in its essence, brought us a piece so full of fervor, so addictive, that it was impossible to wish it to end – this piece was definitely unforgettable, and I can attest that I have never I’m going to look at fado in the same way: in addition to being very curious to learn more about the harmonic palette of this style.

When the singer returns to the stage, we notice how the orchestra perfectly complements and accentuates the enormous theatricality in her voice, perfectly transposing the sea of emotion in her timbre. Particularly in the more playful themes, the way the orchestra manifests such a triumphant and jovial character is magnificent, and how the fado singer manages to obtain such a powerful sound, both magnificently eerie and enchantingly melancholic, or even on the verge of nostalgia, and how it was It’s incredible to hear her painting images that are so reminiscent and in no way faded, definitely, and I find it unlikely to disagree that the singer’s voice is earth-shaking – penetrating, that’s the word I’ve been looking for since the beginning of the concert to describe her, always armed with my faithful notebook but at first without words to describe the strength, the power, the sun in Cuca’s voice.

A wonderfully fluid voice, and, at the risk of sounding cliché, it flew like a bird – freely, and wherever it wanted.

In conclusion, an extremely poignant and undoubtedly unique experience, carried out by a fado singer who knows exactly how to play every string in our hearts – without forgetting a wonderful orchestra that unified and enhanced everything she played, and guitarists, bassist and drummer of incredible virtuosity and musicality, which his incredible musical mastery alone was worth the entire concert.

A concert that was an adventure, and one that was full of life.
Definitely worth repeating, but forgetting? Never.

Check out some moments from the concert, through the lens of António Dias:

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