You probably know that fado is a traditional Portuguese style of music, frequently very melancholy, with a very distinct voice and tempo. It originated in the "mouraria" (the Alfama, the moorish part of Lisbon) and is usually involved with saudade (a Portuguese word that's hard to translate but means a kind of gripping melancholy nostalgia). Here's a youtube link to a very popular and wonderful modern fado performer, Mariza.
Anyway, there are many very touristy spots in Lisbon that perform fado, but they are in restaurants where you must buy an expensive and usually very bad dinner, and worst of all for pilgrims, the singing beging at 11 p.m.
There is now a one hour performance that begins every evening at 7 pm in a small theater in both Lisbon and Porto. I've been to several of these performances and they are professional and give a good introduction to the genre. Here's the link: http://www.fadoinchiado.com/
Highly recommended!
Anyway, there are many very touristy spots in Lisbon that perform fado, but they are in restaurants where you must buy an expensive and usually very bad dinner, and worst of all for pilgrims, the singing beging at 11 p.m.
There is now a one hour performance that begins every evening at 7 pm in a small theater in both Lisbon and Porto. I've been to several of these performances and they are professional and give a good introduction to the genre. Here's the link: http://www.fadoinchiado.com/
Highly recommended!
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