Fado diva Mariza brought a spectacular concert and a true musical experience last night, 15 July, on the Revelin Fort terrace, leaving the numerous audience breathless with a combination of passion, emotion, and incredible vocals.
On the sold-out concert, powered by Mastercard, Mariza, the Portuguese fado sensation of Mozambican roots, showed why she is known as one of the most talented vocalists on the international music scene. Mariza's distinctive and powerful voice which carries incredible expressiveness and emotion, as well as her irresistible charisma and energy left everyone present breathless, and her ability to connect with the audience and create an intimate atmosphere was unparalleled. She filled each song with deep emotions, whether it was her original creation or a classic from the queen of fado, Amália Rodrigues, to whom she dedicated her last studio album, and transferred that feeling onto every individual, immersing them in each bar. The singer brought a fresh contemporary dimension to the traditional Portuguese musical genre that exudes a melancholic Mediterranean spirit, and it was this combination of tradition and modernity that provided a unique experience that will be talked about for years not only in narrow musical circles, but also in wider ones. Her interpretation of fado was enchantingly daring and authentic, and in bringing the soul of fado to Revelin, she was accompanied by an excellent band, composed of talented musicians: Luís Guerreiro on the Portuguese guitar, Djamen Cardoso de Farias on the acoustic guitar, with whom she sang her nostalgia-tinged hit Chuva, Adriano Alves on bass guitar, João Freitas on percussion and João Frade on harmonica. Each song, from Estranha forma de vida, which opened last night's concert, to the touching Quem Me Dera and the playful Senhor Vinho which made the crowd dance, was accompanied by thunderous applause, and at the end of the evening, Mariza received long-lasting applause and ovations from the delighted audience, whom the singer bid farewell to with a temperamental encore Barco Negro, a cover of Amália Rodrigues' classic of the same name.
Opening up to the audience, the songstress spoke about her life, art, love, difficult times, intimacy and feelings, she thanked everyone by saying: “It’s a wonderful pleasure to have the chance to sing to all of you… thank you so much for coming to receive us here this evening in this beautiful, amazing place. We are so thrilled so happy, it's incredible!”
The Festival music programme continues on Tuesday, 18 July in the Rector’s Palace atrium where the Zagreb Soloists will be joined by Marija Pavlović. Tickets for all music and other programmes are available on the official website www.dubrovnikfestival.hr and on the ticketing service www.ulaznice.hr, as well as at the box office at the Festival Palace (Od Sigurate 1 St), which is open every day from 9.00 am to 9.30 pm. Tickets can also be bought at the Festival box office in Vukovarska St during the week from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
