“Fado in Historic Cities” arrives to celebrate Lusophony and promote creative connections with the historic cities of Petrópolis and Ouro Preto. The event will hold large meetings that strengthen cultural links, taking as a reference the influences of Portuguese, African and indigenous peoples, with due awareness of the facts, celebrating our roots and memories, bringing together fados, batuques and lundus.
Paying a fair tribute to Fado, the greatest exponent of Portuguese culture, considered by UNESCO as Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, we connect other Intangible Heritage, such as chorinho and samba. In Ouro Preto, Fado also meets the city, which is a World Heritage Site. During the five-day event, music meets poetry, as well as history, gastronomy, classical and popular artistic events and an exhibition on the Portuguese classic that gives the festival its name.
“Fado in Historic Cities” is carried out by the Ministry of Culture, Natasha Artes and Planeta Agência de Cultura e Sustentabilidade. The event’s master sponsor is GALP, and other sponsors are GERDAU and GEOCOBA Engenharia, supported by INSTITUTO YDUQS – Estácio. It also has a partnership with Petrópolis City Hall, Ouro Preto City Hall, SENAC Petrópolis and the Ouro Preto Arts Foundation (FAOP).
Curated by music enthusiast and cultural entrepreneur Connie Lopesalso creator of the renowned festival Back2Black. The repertoire pays homage to fado with guest performances, such as the contemporary fado singer Ana Moura, one of the best known and respected in Portugal for her unique and deep voice; the great artist of striking interpretation Raquel Tavares; the musician Marta Pereira da Costa with his Portuguese guitar, which joins the guitarist in an unprecedented show Samara Lebanon, accompanied by his seven-string guitar. “It is always very exciting to provide a space to celebrate our common roots together, promote dialogue between different peoples and strengthen the ties of Lusophony”, says creator Connie Lopes.
Amid open spaces and historical settings, Brazilianness stands out with the mandolinist and composer Hamilton from Holland; O Belo Horizonte Choro Club; the concert artist Rosana Lanzelotte; and presentations of Mare of Tomorrow Orchestra of Rio de Janeiro and Padre Simões Orchestra of Ouro Preto, with guest soloists such as Jessica Areias It is Natasha Llerena.
The Portuguese languages meeting will also feature the presence of the Portuguese musicologist Rui Vieira Nery, as well as a “Decolonial Poetry Soiree”. In the current moment of reevaluation of History and the need to broaden and diversify perspectives, and honoring the beauty and legacy of Portuguese literature, let’s celebrate the strength of dissident verses, divergent voices and more comprehensive visions. For musicologist Rui Vieira Nery, in the multicultural context of colonial Brazil, African rhythms and dance patterns combine with European harmonies and forms to generate a sung dance with strong sensuality. This music crossed the Atlantic and was established in the popular neighborhoods of the port of Lisbon.
Adorned like the festivals in Portugal, the festival will also feature street theater, storytelling, a fair with delicacies, wines and handicrafts, as well as cooking, tiles and ceramics workshops.
Journey to Portuguese gastronomy
In a historical reflection of cultural interactions, Portuguese gastronomy carries Roman, Arab, African and Brazilian influences in its cuisine. Between spices, seasonings and ingredients, ‘Fado in Historic Cities’ proposes a historical journey of immersion in the traditional and contemporary flavors of Lusitanian gastronomy.
Participants have the opportunity to explore typical dishes and popular delicacies, such as the famous pastel de Belém, and enjoy traditional wines. One of the highlights of the Festival is the free cooking workshop with the renowned and award-winning chef Marlene Vieira (Instagram @chefmarlenevieira | website marlene.pt) on new and traditional Portuguese cuisine. Marlene is considered the number 1 female chef in Portugal, and her restaurant was nominated this year 2024 by the Michelin Guide.
Find out more about Fado
At the end of the 19th century, outside the doors of Lisbon, Fado was heard in simple taverns devoid of luxury where the decadent aristocracy, the poor, the less favored and the marginalized mingled. From a musical base formed by three styles played on the guitar, Minor (very slow), Corrido (fast) and Mouraria, the singers improvised and created new melodies, which at first were simple variations and vocal inflections. The words could come from the singer’s improvisation or from the inspiration of someone in the audience, who wrote their verses in the same meter as the melodies.
Full schedule on the website: https://fadoemcidadeshistoricas.com.br/
Instagram, Facebook and YouTube: @fadoemcidadeshistoricas
Service
Free – Multicultural Fado Festival in Historic Cities
Petrópolis – RJ
Local: Crystal Palace
Date: May 18th and 19th
Ouro Preto – MG
Local: Faop (Arts Foundation of Ouro Preto) – Rua Alvarenga, 794, Cabeças, Ouro Pretos) / Alto das Dores (Largo da Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Dores)
Date: May 24th, 25th and 26th
Classification: Free
Master Sponsorship: Galp
Sponsorship: Gerdau and Geocoba
Support: Instituto Yduqs / Estácio / TAP Air Portugal
Partnerships: Petrópolis and Ouro Preto City Halls, Senac, Faop
Co-realization: Planeta Culture and Sustainability Agency
Directed by: Natasha Artes and Ministry of Culture Brazil
