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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
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Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
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Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Evening Standard rating
Reader rating
Description: The Portuguese fado singer performs material from her forthcoming album, Terra at a special family concert.
Phone: 0845120 7500
Website: www.barbican.org.uk
Email: info@barbican.org.uk
Trains: Tube/BR: Moorgate/Barbican 
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 11am-8pm
Extra info: Parking, Pub, Food
Mariza dos Reis Nunes sings it like she means it. “Oh Soul! My Soul,” she emotes in Portuguese, one hand outstretched in front of her, the other thumping her heart. “Tell me who I am/Tell me where I’m bound.” She doesn’t need to ask: Mariza is the greatest star of contemporary fado. Her theatrical shows and clutch of albums, including the Latin Grammy-nominated Terra (Earth), have reinvented the traditional music of Portugal. With her voice of operatic proportions she is bound for legend.
Swishing about the stage in a black designer gown, her hair a shiny silver crop, the statuesque Afro-Portuguese singer performed with the effortless confidence that comes from playing Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House.
Last year the architect Frank Gehry recreated a Lisbon taverna for her show at his Walt Disney Concert Hall; here, Mariza conjured an imaginary fado haunt aided by five black-garbed musicians, each in his own spotlight.
Favourites such as Maria Lisboa and Meu Fado Meu were delivered with a trademark mix of verve and restraint, getting all three tiers clapping in time or listening in pin-drop silence.
There were flourishes from Angelo Freire on the heart-shaped Portuguese guitar, and an impressive percussion solo by Hugo Marques; Simon Wandsworth left off piano to add poignant trumpet to the Cape Verdean morna, Beijo de Saudade.
During Tasco da Mouraria, a song dedicated to her father, Mariza crouched on the rim of the stage, her head in her arms. When, after a guitar interlude, she looked up, there were tears streaming down her face.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Moving, inspiring, Mariza has no peer, in this or any other field of popular music. But was the addition of a full-kit drummer really wise? The amplification was accordingly hiked up several notches so that everyone could be heard over the drums – to the detriment of the overall sound. And, of course, the drum solo was ecstatically applauded by an audience that surely should know better. Still, it made the moment when she dispensed with all amplification, accompanied by just her guitarists even more magical. A REAL star, in the proper sense of that term.
- Bob Cornwell, Northolt, Middlesex
Obviously a great singer with a powerful, and emotional voice, but the Barbican performance was disappointingly spoiled by 'over-miking'. Would have been better had the instrumentation been purely acoustic, or with minimum amplification.
- Gordon Cooper, London
fantastic !
- Andrew Wright, United Kingdom
Mariza was just superb at the Barbican, she held the attention of everyone, when she sang with a mike you could have heard a pin drop - she is a truly talented singer and fabulous entertainer ! 3.11.08
- Phil, London UK
