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Mariza, whom Uncut calls “the greatest contemporary singer of fado,” has become the most successful performer in the genre since the late Amália Rodrigues. She returns for her fourth appearance at The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 22 at 8:00 p.m., in a performance that celebrates the release of her acclaimed new album, Mondo. Described by Songlines as “stunning, shimmering” and “simply breathtaking,” Mondo celebrates a more personal style for the artist and captures both the spirit of her emotional live performances and her impressive vocal range. Tickets for Mariza range from $39 to $69 and are available at www.zeiterion.org, 508-994-2900 or at the Zeiterion box office, 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford.
Born in Mozambique and raised in Portugal, Mariza’s rise to become one of the biggest names in global pop and folk came quickly in the wake of her 2001 debut, Fado em Mim, and has been defined by a desire to bring traditional music to the present, and into the global mainstream.
In the 14 years since her debut album she has travelled the world performing at some of the most prestigious venues, performing with some of the biggest names, supported by some of the most well-known orchestras while her records have gone on to sell over one million copies worldwide attracting over 30 Platinum awards.
She has released her sixth studio recording and her first of entirely new material in five years. This new album called Mundo (World) aptly describes the world that fits inside it – a world that Mariza in her voice, but also the world whose doors opened to her as she traveled around the globe through the years. Mariza’s Fado is a different. It’s an adventurous Fado that expands beyond the Portuguese borders in search of a new cosmopolitan identity.
Many of the songs featured on Mundo were written specifically for Mariza’s voice. Among the exceptions are a cover version of a 1930 tango originally sung by Carlos Gardel; one Fado made famous by Amália Rodrigues and another created by the legendary Alfredo Marceneiro; and a Cape Verdian “morna”.
She’s been essential to fado’s internationalization, performing at the world’s hallowed Halls – Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall and Massey Hall – and biggest stages – the World Cup, the Olympics, and collaborating with the likes of Gilberto Gil, Lenny Kravitz, Sting, Cesária Évora and many others, and achieved multi-platinum and chart-topping status for all of her albums.
She’s been named a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, is a winner and multiple nominee at BBC Radio 3’s Best World Music Artist, and most recently was named Best Artist of 2016 by Songlines Magazine, and one of the 20 most influential women of Portugal by Executiva Magazine.
“A lot of things have changed in my life and made me have a very different perspective. I just want to do good concerts, and not in big arenas,” she says. “I want to make my music approachable, as close as possible to the people.”
Tickets for Mariza start at $39 and 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. Zeiterion Box Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and two hours before each performance.
