The New Voices of Fado: “An Evening of Fado with Nathalie Pires and Marco Rodrigues”

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Fado, which means “fate” or “destiny,” is arguably the world’s oldest urban folk music, having emerged from the bustling cafes of Lisbon in the early nineteenth century. While fado music has endured since then, it has been reinvigorated by contemporary artists along the way. The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, a leading presenter of world-renowned fado artists, is proud to bring forward two of these new voices when the “fresh faces of fado” Nathalie Pires and Marco Rodrigues, take the stage on Saturday, May 7, at 8:00p.m. They will perform both solo and together in their New Bedford debut! Tickets from $35 to $49 are available at www.zeiterion.org, 508-994-2900 or at the Zeiterion box office, 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford.

Nathalie Pires is one of today’s leading, young fado singers. Born and raised in the Portuguese American community in New Jersey, she is a stunning new talent who is praised for her intense, expressive voice. Fado singing is often described as the soul of the Portuguese people, which makes the rise of this American born singer to international prominence all the more impressive. She has even gained acceptance in Lisbon’s fado clubs and taverns – a rare feat for an American fadista!

In 2007, when she was 21, Nathalie recorded her first album, Corre-me O Fado Nas Veias (Fado Runs in My Veins). The album was awarded the United Artists of America’s “Prémio Lusíada” for “Best Fado Album of 2007.” In 2011 she received her most personally meaningful recognition to date, when she was given the “Amália Rodrigues Medal of Merit” in recognition of her status an “ambassador of fado” and her efforts representing Amália, her idol, with dignity outside Portugal. A performance from her second album, 2015’s Fado Alem, gained her recognition as “Fado Singer of the Year” by the International Portuguese Music Association.

Marco Rodrigues is from northern Portugal and as a teenager, placed second in the largest fado contest in Portugal the “Grande Noite do Fado.” That same year he was selected as Portugal’s representative at the International Music Festival in Italy. Later, after moving the fado capital of Lisbon, he again participated in the “Grande Noite do Fado” and won! His victory opened the opportunity to play some of Lisbon’s most important “Casas de Fado.” Marco’s success caught the attention Mariza, the world’s most famous fado singer, and she invited him to play with her in Lisbon’s Oporto Rivoli, as well at the Royal Festival Hall in London. He has since performed with other fado greats Ana Moura and Carlos do Carmo and received the 2007 Amália Rodrigues Foundation’s prize for the best “Newcomer Fado Singer.”

Tickets for “An Evening of Fado with Nathalie Pires and Marco Rodrigues” are available for purchase at www.zeiterion.org, by calling 508-994-2900, or in person at the box office at 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA. Box Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and two hours before each performance.


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