The Royal Fado and unusual places in Lisbon
Discover Fado in an unusual Lisbon
Fado rhymes with Lisbon. And if you want to hear it without going to a restaurant, Fado Real offers a different experience.
Fado is here, and it’s really here. And it can be heard in different and sometimes unfamiliar places.
The experience is different from that of the fado restaurants that have often replaced the taverns of yesteryear. It’s still a very pleasant way to hear fado, but the system is a bit heavy-handed.
Not everyone wants to spend three hours dining: diners have to stop when the singers and musicians start their repertoire again.
Fado Real offers 1-hour concerts without catering, to get as close as possible to the high-quality performance. And it all takes place in the Principe Real square, which explains the name Royal (Real) Fado.
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Patriarchate, Embassy and Chinese Pavilion
The Fado recitals take place in beautiful spaces, on different days. They all take place from 7pm to 8pm on Thursdays, Fridays,Saturdays and sundays
What they all have in common is their proximity to the Principe Real square, in the heart of a lively, trendy district where it’s great to get out and explore.
The Thursday concert takes place at the Pavilhão Chines, the Chinese Pavilion, close to Principe Real square. A benchmark bar in Lisbon, its décor is made up of a thousand and one antique objects.
Strange collections cover the walls of this cosy pub known for its cocktails, cosmopolitan atmosphere and pool table.
On Fridays and Saturdays, the recital takes place at the Patriarchate Reservoir. This is a plunge into the heart of the Aqueduct of the Águas Livres, a space that can be visited during the day. The stone setting adds an extra touch of mystery to the Fado.
Finally, on Sundays, the Embassy, “Embaxaida”, is the place to be. The former Ribeiro da Cunha palace, built in the 19th century, has been transformed into a shopping and restaurant mall. Its neo-Arabic-inspired patio lends itself well to the interpretation of fado.
The patriarchal reservoir has been www.lisbonne-affinités.com, conquered
A different, intimate concept
Fado is about a singer and two musicians.
One plays the Portuguese guitar, a round guitar with 20 strings. It is descended from the cistrum, a plucked string instrument that first appeared in the 15th century.
The other plays the viola, which is none other than the guitar.
The two instruments accompany the voice in a subtle, rich dialogue. The codes of interpretation, the lyrics and the styles of fado make this musical genre a cultural treasure trove.
But fado does a marvellous job of conveying the nuances of the soul and the heart. It can be melancholy or playful, slow or upbeat, funny or teasing.
At Le patriarcat, our experience is that audiences in small groups are lucky enough to be close to the performers. And even if they don’t understand the words, they can still vibrate to the sound of the remarkable performances.
Wearing a simple little black dress, but with no shawl or sleeve effects, the interpreter charmed her audience. And she used English to frame her repertoire.
An informed Real Fado
The Real Fado takes place on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7pm to 8pm.
Tickets cost 30 euros, subject to reservation, for seats closest to the stage. With personalised accompaniment.
Other tickets are €20 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Given the limited space, booking is strongly recommended.
To find out more, visit the Real Fado Concerts website https://www.realfadoconcerts.com/