o fado pt 2 - mariza at the barbican

Barbican Centre, London.
November 2nd, 2005
Mariza live.

I can only say it was the best concert of the year so far and one of the best I have ever experienced.
Mariza has overcome the barrier that divides singers from true artists. I have been appreciating her art for a long time, her three albums are an excellent sample of what has been going on with fado after Amalia's death in 1999. There is a big mix of new and old composers, new and old instruments, and new and old fado. It is in fact very alive.

The show at the Barbican had everything, it was very complete. Mariza is an entertainer as well as the container of that voice and soul. She is witty even if not speaking in her mother tongue, she kept everyone laughing and smiling throughout. Her voice brought tears of joy and sadness to whoever is listening. And she respects the public - we want an encore she does it. We want another one, she asks what songs to sing, we tell her, and she plays them. We want another one and she does it again.

At one time, she sang Fado da Mouraria with no microphone or sound system. The guitar, bass and Portuguese guitar men with one foot on top of a chair in the middle of the stage, and her voice powerful enough to reach everyone in the room. It was unforgettable.

Even without understanding a word she is singing, she is widely appreciated in London. Most of the audience were in fact Brits.

I wish therefore to state in writing that Mariza is a true artist.