Algarve historian Peter Kingdon Booker will be giving his second talk on “Fado”, with music examples, this month at two venues.
Fado occupies a special place in Portuguese culture. About 200 years old and of disputed roots, fado was certainly born in Lisbon and, in fact, was Lisbon folk music.
The word implies an unlucky fate and fado has an undeserved reputation for misery and unhappiness. Just as striking are the happier types of fado and the celebrations of the traditions of Lisbon.
The second home of fado is Coimbra, and Coimbra fado is of its own kind.
Fado has been subjected to political control and its development was heavily influenced by the aristocracy of Portugal and by government censorship. Fortunately those times have passed and fado has resumed its place at the forefront of popular Portuguese culture.
Peter presents an “estrangeiro” view of fado and explains how foreigners may enjoy a deeper experience of this essentially Portuguese phenomenon.
The talk will take place on Monday, January 12, at the Municipal Library of Tavira and on Tuesday, January 13, at the Municipal Library Lagoa, both at 6pm.
lynnebooker@sapo.pt
Photo: Street art in Lisbon depicting the late fado singer Amália Rodrigues
