Not all National Treasures are made of gold and jewels; such is the case with Portugal's Mariza. She was born in Mozambique, a country on the eastern coast of Africa south of the equator, but was moved to Portugal while still a baby.
While still very young Mariza began singing a traditional style of music called fado (fate) and at the age of five Mariza sang at her parent's restaurant. Fado is an emotional style of music and Mariza's emotions were so intense when she sung that her father drew pictures to illustrate those emotions.
"Fado houses", a place where fado is more of way of life, singing is a part of everyday life. One not need to comprehend the language to understand the emotions attached to fado - love, passion, grief, jealousy, sorrow, and even satire. Mariza - who is called the Queen of Fado - has shown such emotions and understanding as she has performed before packed houses on four continents. Fado is an old style of music but Mariza has turned it into a timeless art form making it as relevant today as it was in the past.
Mariza released her first album "Fado em min" (Fado in me). It went on to be certified platinum four times over in her home of Portugal and would start a trend for Mariza and her music.
Her second album "Fado Curvo" (Fado Curves) was also certified four times platinum and reached number six on the Billboard World Music Chart.
Her third album "Transparenta" (Transparent) which was released in 35 countries went platinum in Portugal, reached number one in Portugal, and reached the top 10 in Finland, Iceland, and the Netherlands.
Mariza's newest album is titled "Terra" (Earth). When asked why Mariza stated that over the past seven years of traveling the world she has met many people and learned about numerous cultures, but has remained true to herself and managed to keep her feet planted firmly on the ground.
Mariza has seen success in more than just filled houses and platinum records; she has received recognition and awards from more than just her homeland. Among those awards are the Most Outstanding Performance at the 2002 Quebec Summer Fest, the Deutsche Schalplatten Kritik Award by the German Music Critics, Portugal's Personality of the Year in 2003, the European Border Breakers Award in 2004, was awarded the Comenda Ordem do Infanta D for contributions to Portugal's culture, history, and values, was named the International Ambassador by the Kingdom of Denmark, and was given the award for Best Interpreter of the Year at the Portuguese Golden Globe Awards.
As a part of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens an official CD was released; as a part of that compilation Mariza performed "A Thousand Years" with the multi talented international star Sting. And as a part of Live 8 at a concert in Cornwall Mariza sang with Peter Gabriel, Youssou N'Dour, and Angelique Kidjo.
Now Mariza is bringing her emotional and unique style of music to North America. Tour dates are:
Feb. 13 at Massey Hall in Toronto
Feb. 14 at Orchestra Hall, Symphony Center in Chicago
Feb. 15 at Theatre Maisonneuve, Pace Des Arts in Montreal
Feb. 17 at La Palais Montcalm - Salle Raoul Jobin in Quebec City
Feb. 19 at University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center in Amherst
Feb. 20 at Fairfield University Kelley Theatre in Fairfield, CT
Feb. 25 at the University of Buffalo Center for the Arts in Buffalo
Feb. 27 at the Long Island University Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Greenvale, NY
Feb. 28 at the Town Hall in New York City
March 1 at the Kimmel Theater, Verizon Hall in Philadelphia
March 3 at the Spaulding Auditorium in Hanover, NH
March 4 at the Flynn Theater in Burlington, VT
March 6 at George Mason University - Center for the Arts Concert Hall in Fairfax, VA
March 7 at the Byham Theater, in Pittsburgh
March 9 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville
March 10 at The American Theatre in Hampton, VA
March 13 &14 at the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford, MA
March 15 at the Garde Theatre in New London, CT
March 18 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles
March 19 at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara
March 21 at the Lucas Theatre in Savannah, GA
March 27 at the Au Rene Theatre in Ft. Lauderdale
March 28 at the Knight Concert Hall in Miami
March 29 at the Robert Fest Theatre in Atlanta
March 31 at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill, NC
April 1 at Camp Concert Hall in Richmond
April 3 at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre in Germantown, TN
April 4 at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, AR
April 5 at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis
April 8 at the Wisconsin Union Theatre in Madison
April 10 at the Ohio Theatre Playhouse Sq. Center in Cleveland
April 11 at the Music Hall Center for Performing Arts in Detroit
April 14 at the Loeb Playhouse - Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN
April 15 at the Krannert Center in Urbana, IL
April 17 at the Benaroya Hall in Seattle
April 18 & 20 at the Concert Hall - Chan Centre for the Performing Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia
April 22 at the Concert Hall in Boulder, CO
April 23 at the Lensic Theatre in Santa Fe, NM
April 25 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, OR
April 26 at the Silva Concert Hall in Eugene, OR
April 28 at The Balboa Theatre in San Diego
April 30 at the Napa Valley Opera House in Napa, CA
May 1 at the Turlock Community Theatre in Turlock, CA
May 2 at the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco
By: sfulghum
02/13/09 >> 
