Mariza

Last night here in Houston with my musician friend MB, I saw Mariza, the brilliant Mozambican-Portuguese fado singer. She sang for nearly 2 hours, and gave 5 encores. I can't remember when I've ever heard such an amazingly expressive voice or such a charismatic presence. MB was astounded at her perfect pitch and her ability to sing at alternating loud and barely audible dynamics, sometimes within the same phrase. She was literally breathtaking, and the music was so moving and powerful. She ends every show with this fado:

Primavera_Mariza.m4a

Primavera
(poem by David Mourão Ferreira, music by Pedro Rodrigues)

Todo o amor que nos prendera
Como se fora de cera
Se quebrava e desfazia
Ai funesta primavera
Quem me dera, quem nos dera
Ter morrido nesse dia

E condenaram-me a tanto
Viver comigo meu pranto
Viver, viver e sem ti
Vivendo sem no entanto
Eu me esquecer desse encanto
Que nesse dia perdi

Pão duro da solidão
É somente o que nos dão
O que nos dão a comer
Que importa que o coração
Diga que sim ou que não
Se continua a viver

Todo o amor que nos prendera
Se quebrara e desfizera
Em pavor se convertia
Ninguém fale em primavera
Quem me dera, quem nos dera
Ter morrido nesse dia


Spring

All the love that seized us
As if made of wax it was
Was broken and undone
Ah, fatal spring
How I wish, how we wish
To have died that day

And condemned I was
To have weeping living with me
To live, to live without you
Living and not, however,
forgetting that enchantment
That I lost in that day

The dry bread of solitude
It's the only thing we get
The only thing to be fed on
What matters if the heart
Says yes or says no
If it keeps on living

All the love that seized us
Was broken, was undone
In fear was converted
Let no one speak of spring
How I wish, how we wish
To have died that day

Tonight , If you live in Dallas, or next week if you live in California, even if you have to buy the last and worst seat in the whole house, go see her if you can. You can go hear the muse of a nation, it's as if you have the chance to see an Edith Piaf, or a Chavela Vargas. I'm seriously thinking of flying down to Monterrey Mexico to catch her again. Let me know if you'd like to join me.


20-10-2007 - USA - Dallas - McFarlin Auditorium , 20:00

23-10-2007 - USA - Berkeley - Zellerbach Hall , 20:00

24-10-2007 - USA - Davis, CA - Jackson Hall , 20:00

26-10-2007 - USA - Santa Barbara - Lobero Theatre , 20:00

27-10-2007 - USA - Costa Mesa - Segerstrom Hall , 20:00

28-10-2007 - USA - Los Angeles - Disney Concert Hall , 20:00

04-11-2007 - Mexico - Monterrey - Plaza de Los 400 años , 21:00

Mariza, - Quando Me Sinto So, - Transparente,