Exhibition runs until October 7
Portimão’s renovated Lota building will host an exhibition of Portuguese guitars owned by José Paulo Maio Costa, one of the country’s biggest collectors of the instrument.
The exhibition – entitled “A ‘minha’ história da guitarra portuguesa” (“My” history of the Portuguese guitar) – will be inaugurated on Saturday, September 7 at 8pm with a guided tour of the collection, followed at 9pm by a musical performance featuring Fado singers Rita Raimundo, Cremilde and Veríssimo Galharado, accompanied by Vítor do Carmo (Portuguese guitar) and Nuno Martins (Fado guitar).
Visitors will be able to “discover the shapes and sounds of the Portuguese guitar” and “enjoy the space as if it were a Fado house”.
In fact, the Lota building will host several Fado performances throughout the month, starting at 9.30pm, with the second show (September 8) featuring Fado singer Ana Paula Martins alongside Custódio Castelo (Portuguese guitar) and Carlos Garcia (Fado guitar). The remaining performances will see guitarists Vítor do Carmo and José Santana take the stage alongside Helena Candeias (September 14); Hélder Coelho (September 21); Adriana Marques (September 27); and Ana Marques (October 6).
“The characteristic sound produced by the 12 strings of the Portuguese guitar was certainly one of the main reasons why Fado, considered the national song, was recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” Portimão Council, which is organising the exhibition through its municipal museum, says in a statement to the press.
Describing the Portuguese guitar as an “inseparable element of this musical style,” the council says the instrument stands out due to its “unique construction, shape, and sound, which have been developed over time by a significant group of master luthiers, including notable names such as Álvaro da Silveira and the Grácio and Cardoso families.”
“Beyond its particular and intense use in Fado, the Portuguese guitar possesses a unique individuality, extending well beyond the stylistic boundaries of the national song, thanks to the work of authors such as Carlos Paredes and Pedro Caldeira Cabral,” the council adds.
The exhibition will remain on display until October 7.
