Search - Amalia Rodrigues :: Amalia/Vinicius

An evening at Amália's

Fernando Forte | Lisbon, Portugal | 06/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This might be called an historical cd, since it reproduces a double LP which was first released in 1970. It is the recording of an evening at Amália's house in São Bento Street, Lisbon, on the 19th December 1968. What was special with this recorded evening was the fact that it was a farewell gathering for Brazilian author, composer, singer and diplomat Vinicius de Moraes (1913-1980) who was visiting Lisbon, and was a friend of Amália's. What is special about it is also the fact that present were some of Portugal's greatest poets, composers and the world's greatest singer: the hostess. Thus, present were David Mourão-Ferreira (1927-1996) a portuguese Professor of Humanistics, poet and writer, Natália Correia (1923-1993) a feminist poet, later a Member of the Portuguese Parliament, television presenter of shows on literature, Carlos Ary dos Santos (1937-1984), one of Portugal's most illustrious poets, Alain Oulman (1925-1990), Amália's renowned composer. What is special about that evenign is that it transports us to the famed evenings Amália used to host at her home, with friends, philosophers, poets, singers and family. Special, of course, is Amália's singing of a few songs, including one written by Vinicius himself. The cultural and historical value of this recording is quite fabulous and unique. All gathered in an unique event, reading poetry, speaking, singing. An almost priceless recording!"