What fado isn't, however, is "folk" music. It wasn't developed in the countryside, but rather in the port city of Lisbon.

"Fado was born by the sea," said Mariza, the Portuguese-Mozambican singer with bright white hair, deep dark eyes and dramatically strong voice. It was sung by lonely sailors at sea and by their desperate families at home.

"Fado is a music that grows with the social life of a city," Mariza said. "Fado grows as the city grows; it has a life where people grow. If a city stops growing, fado will stop at the same time. If the city changes, moves, brings on a new generation, brings on new things, then fado moves, too."

Historically, fado is performed by a singer, a Spanish or classical guitar and a Portuguese guitar. But artists like Mariza have expanded the tonal language of fado while retaining its melancholy essence. Her new CD, "Concerto em Lisboa," is a gorgeous collection of strings-soaked sorrow, recorded with the Sinfonietta de Lisboa and conducted by Brazilian music giant Jaques Morelenbaum.

"I try to bring the old fado songs, which are 80 or 90 years old, and I try to make new arrangements for them," Mariza said. "But slowly — very slowly. It's like taking care of a baby.

» Kennedy Center, Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW; Fri., 7:30 p.m., $15-$45; 202-467-4600. (Foggy Bottom-GWU)