Lisbon’s traditional Alfama neighbourhood – considered the birthplace of Fado music – will be hosting the second Fado festival ‘Caixa Alfama’ on September 19 and 20.
Organised by Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) and Música no Coração, the festival will feature performances by 40 Fado singers from different generations who currently “best represent, interpret and promote the genre”.
On the list are some of Portugal’s most renowned artists and acts, such as Anita Guerreiro, Ana Moura, Carminho, António Zambujo, Ana Bacalhau (lead singer of popular modern Fado band Deolinda) and many more.
Concerts will be held in 10 venues, including the Alfama auditorium and the restaurant of Lisbon’s Fado Museum, the Grupo Sportivo Adicense building, the Dr Magalhães de Lima Cultural Centre, Largo Alcaçarias, Sociedade Boa União and the S. Miguel and Stº Estevão churches.
On September 20, a tribute to one of Portugal’s Fado ‘greats’, the late Fernando Maurício, will take place with performances by various singers.
Born in the Lisbon neighbourhood of Mouraria, the Fado legend received many awards during his singing career, including one from the President of Portugal. He died in 2003 from a heart attack, aged 69.
Amália Rodrigues, by far the most famous ‘fadista’ in the world, will have a stage named after her in Fonte do Poeta. The singer died at the age of 79 in her Lisbon home in 1999.
In its first edition last year, the Alfama fado festival attracted 10,000 people.
Tickets cost €35 and must be traded in for a bracelet giving access to all of the shows by September 18.
www.caixaalfama.pt
