By Fred Shuster

Fado, Portugal's most famous music, tells emotional tales of longing and loss. The mournful, bluesy music began in the taverns, street corners and brothels of the working-class districts of Lisbon.

Mariza, one of the foremost fado singers in the world, spent her childhood performing these torch songs in her father's Lisbon taverna, becoming an international sensation after the release of her 2001 debut album.

Inspired, it is thought, by African slave and Moorish songs, fado was transformed by Portuguese sailors in the early 19th century into an expression of the loneliness of life at sea. When Bill Clinton visited Portugal as president in 2000, he confessed to having fallen in love with fado: "I'm going to promote fado music all over the world!" he exclaimed.

Along with Mariza, other celebrated fado singers include the late Amalia Rodrigues, Cristina Branco and Cesaria Evora, who performs a Cape Verde style closely related to Portuguese fado.

Mariza returns to L.A. on Sunday for a special appearance in which her friend, renowned architect Frank Gehry, will transform the Disney Hall stage into a taverna, a design that represents the Portuguese home of the music. Mariza has also been seen lately on the enchanting PBS special, "Mariza: Live From Lisbon."

We reached her a few days before she arrives in town.

Why is fado accepted by Western audiences? It's really rooted in the blues, and even if you don't understand the language, you feel the emotion. The songs are about the feelings of life, of human beings. People understand the message. The translation of fado is "fate."

How did you meet Gehry?

About five years ago, Frank came to one of my concerts in Lisbon, a city he loves and travels to frequently. We met and became good friends. He's never collaborated with a performer before, but he asked me if he could design a Lisbon taverna on the stage inside Disney Hall for me when 1 next come sing in LA. So, we set up a date for the concert. I don't know exactly what it will be, but he's given me some clues, and I know it will amazing.

Fado was not always beloved in Portugal. We had a terrible period of fascism (that ended after 40 years in 1974), where fado was used by that regime to promote their politics. So, a lot of people had bad memories of the music. It reminded them of a time they wanted to forget. But that changed in the '90s, and now you hear the music throughout Lisbon in restaurants -- and around the world. The people are proud of it.

Is fado changing? It's an urban music that's always changing. To have the traditional fado like the kind sung by Amalia Rodrigues is very important, and we need to preserve that. But it's essential it stay current with the times to reflect the people. Fado is doing well now, and new voices are coming about all the time -- and that gives it life. It will always live and grow.