Known across the world as a musical symbol of Portuguese culture, fado is characterized by its distinct melancholic melodies and evocative lyrics. Experience the soulful sounds of this rich tradition with a performance by the undisputed queen of fado. An international ambassador of contemporary Portuguese music, Mariza brings her enchanting charisma, unparalleled voice, and profound emotional depth to the Moss Arts Center stage on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m.

Singing in Portuguese and accompanied by elegant acoustic guitarists, Mariza transcends language, celebrating fado’s cultural significance and expressiveness while weaving tales of life’s joys and sorrows. Fado is unique in its sound and lyricism, with poetic lyrics acknowledging the reality of life — there is no happiness without pain, nor light without darkness. Mariza’s captivating alto voice delivers the raw power and beautiful, haunting longing of fado, sweeping through its deep-rooted themes of love and loss.

Born in Mozambique but raised from an early age in one of the most emblematic and traditional neighborhoods of Lisbon, Mariza was influenced from a very early age by fado. Her musical journey began discreetly, as an almost hidden local phenomenon shared only by a small circle of Lisbon admirers. She soon made the world her stage and seduced the most demanding audiences with her extraordinary voice, becoming one of the most applauded stars on the world music circuit and an ambassador of fado, never hesitating to take it along new and daring paths.

Her popularity has translated into over 30 platinum albums, numerous national and international awards, and performances on the most elite stages in the world: Olympia in Paris, Opera in Frankfurt Opera, Royal Festival Hall in London, Le Carré in Amsterdam, Palau de la Música in Barcelona, Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall in New York, and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

This performance is supported in part by a gift from Libby Drapeau.

Related events

Prior to the performance, join Lila Ellen Gray, associate professor of music at Dickinson College, for an on-site livestreamed talk, “Fado: The Song of Longing,” on Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 6:30-7 p.m. in Merryman Family Learning Studio, Moss Room 253. An ethnomusicologist, cultural anthropologist, and interdisciplinary scholar of music and sound, Gray illustrates fado’s historical origins and contemporary qualities. Her book, “Fado Resounding: Affective Politics and Urban Life,” is a musical ethnography of fado and was the recipient of the 2014 Woody Guthrie Award of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music.

Immediately following the performance, Mariza will engage with audience members in a post-performance question-and-answer session.

During her visit to Blacksburg, Mariza will visit a Virginia Tech European American music theory course to speak with students about the history, structure, and continual evolution of fado.

Tickets

Tickets for the performance are $25-$65 for general audience and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Moss Arts Center's box office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.

Venue and parking information

The performance will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall. Convenient parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street and in downtown Blacksburg. Find more parking details online.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jamie Wiggert at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email wiggertj@vt.edu during regular business hours.  

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