Fado: The Beauty Found in Sorrow

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 1, 2006 3:00PM

Chicagoist had tomorrow marked on our calendar almost since the start of the Grant Park Music Festival season. That's when the Grant Park orchestra takes to the Pritzker Pavillon stage for a program of Brazilian and Portuguese music. Last week, the Reader's Peter Margasak reported over on his must-read blog that the featured performer, the Portugese fadista Cristina Branco, would be replaced by her more popular contemporary, the Mozambique-born Mariza (Nunes).

The origins of fado go back to at least the early nineteenth century. Musicologists theorize that fado evolved from Moorish folk songs and modinha, a sentimental love song style popular in the salons of Portugal and Brazil of the time. It's been called the "Portuguese blues"; a definite generalization, but it does place those curious on the right stylistic path, since both styles emphasize feeling.

The themes of fado songs are universal: death, despair, longing, and broken or unrequited love. Unlike, say, emo, however, the theatrical nature of fado combined with the spartan musical arrangements (typically guitar, bass, and Portuguese classical guitar) can move audiences to tears. Both Mariza and Branco toil in the considerable shadow of fadista goddess Amália Rodrigues. But, with her flowing gowns, leonine features, and dyed blonde bob contrasting with her olive complexion, Mariza onstage is head and shoulders above Branco.

Having seen both in concert, Chicagoist believes that the last-minute change from Branco to Mariza is a marked upgrade in the program. It'll be interesting to hear how Mariza and the orchestra play off each other, and to see if her stage presence - so overwhelming in a club or theater setting - translates to a larger setting. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Bring the port wine.

Mariza photograph courtesy of flykr.