Marta Pereira da Costa in Israel

 

Monday  May the 16^th  Marta Pereira da Costa, a Portuguese guitar player came to Israel to do a unique fado concert. This was a rare occasion to hear this kind of music.

Fado is the Portuguese national song that draws its origins from gypsy, Sephardic, and North African musical traditions adding to them a strong nostalgic imprint.

In the beginning, Marta Pereira da Costa performed with her Portuguese guitar on the ensembles of two of fado’s biggest names, who played several times in Israel, Mariza and Camané. But by 2012, she decided to abandon her work as a civil engineer in order to pursue a professional career in music as a Portuguese guitar player giving her first solo concert in Toronto and becoming the first woman to do so. Since then, she has been accumulating awards, successful albums, and concerts in some of the world’s top festivals.  

The Israeli concert was part of the celebrations of the Portuguese Language Day and is being organized by the Camões Institute of Language and Culture, the Embassy of Portugal, the Brazilian Cultural Center in Tel Aviv, and the Brazilian Embassy. It was held in studio Annette in Tel Aviv.

The new star of Portuguese guitar answered our questions about her career as a soloist and her kaleidoscopic musical references. 

 

 

1.What is it like to be the only professional female interpreter of Portuguese guitar?

I'm not the only one. Luckily, we have Luísa Amaro at Coimbra Guitar, Mariana Martins who have graduated in Portuguese Guitar, and other women learning. As I was asked this question in interviews, I became aware that I am a pioneer and a reference for other women. It is a great responsibility that I learned to assume, and I try every day to be the best example of dedication, work, and commitment to this instrument. I started with passion and an immediate connection to the Portuguese guitar without being very aware of this responsibility.

 

2.    Is the Portuguese guitar still dominated by men or does it foresee the arrival of more female performers?

It's still very much like that, but the female actors are coming, boldly. It takes time, but there are already several girls and women learning Portuguese guitar. It is a great pride and happiness to see this change.

 

 

 

 

 

3.    Tell us about your musical references?

I grew up with classical music. I started studying music and piano when I was 4 years old. Major references, Beethoven and other composers of the Romantic period. I really like Brazilian music, Tom Jobim, Chico Buarque, Caetano, Vinicius and Toquinho. I do really like Cape Verdean mornas with Tito Paris, for example, and tango and bandoneon with Astor Piazzolla. I do really like soundtracks by Hans Zimmer or John Williams. I have my great references in the Portuguese Guitar: Carlos Paredes, Armandinho, Fontes Rocha, Mario Pacheco.

 

4.    You play the Portuguese guitar from Coimbra and not from Lisbon. Any reason for this choice?

I have two guitars. One of each. Aesthetically they are different and historically have different functions. I like them both a lot. Right now, for the last 3 years, I've been playing the guitar from Lisbon. It has to do with the sound, I really like this guitar, and now it's always my first choice.

 

5.    You worked with Camané, who is one of Fado’s top singers, how was it?

Camané is my reference in Fado, in terms of voice and interpretation there is not equal, I admire him a lot, and I get very emotional listening to him. Being able to record a song with him on my first album was a dream come true. We chose a theme that was one of his great references: Alfredo Marceneiro, with “Fado Laranjeira”. And so, we gave meaning to our partnership.

 

6.    Is this your first time in Israel? Did you know that fado has many followers here? Can you find any explanation for the phenomenon?

It's not my first time. I've played several times in Israel with other Fado projects, and we were very well received. But it is the first time that I bring this Portuguese guitar project where it is presented as a solo instrument, covering different sounds such as Jazz, World Music, and traditional Portuguese Music.