Portuguese fado* singer Gisela João delivered her third performance in Macau at the Macau Cultural Centre’s (CCM) Small Auditorium on Saturday as part of the 35th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), ending the night with a full house and a standing ovation.
Titled “AuRora”, the 39-year-old Barcelos-born singer performed a selection of songs from her third album of the same name such as “Canção ao Coração [Song to the Heart]”, “Louca [Crazy]” and “Já Não Choro por Ti [I no longer cry for you]”, together with Ricardo Parreira on Portuguese guitar, Nelson Aleixo on acoustic guitar, Francisco Gaspar on acoustic bass and Luís Pereira on keyboards.
João also interacted with the audience in Portuguese and English and talked about how some of her music came about in between the songs.
A statement from the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) noted that João is a “central figure and one of the most important interpreters of fado and Portuguese music today”. She has garnered awards such as the Revelation prize at the 8th Amália Awards Gala, and is “a constant presence on national and international stages”, according to the statement.
*Wiktionary notes that fado [“fate”] is a Portuguese folk song that usually features a single vocalist, Portuguese guitar and sometimes classical guitar. Its lyrical themes are often melancholic in nature, and the structure of the song is of greater importance.
This undated handout photo downloaded from the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s (IC) website last night shows Portuguese fado singer Gisela João. Photo-taking was not allowed during her performance at the Small Auditorium of the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) on Saturday.
