As someone who struggles mightily with understanding Continental Portuguese, I gave it a try. But I have skipped the things I just can’t make out and have put in a mix of summary and direct translation.
“It’s very interesting for me to note that I am as old as Amalia (would be). In fact I’m five months older — my birthday is in February, hers in July. It’s very interesting — I like very much to talk about her. Especially on her 100th birthday. She was the best. I can’t imagine anyone better than Amalia. With her (as her accompanist for 29 years) I got to know the world. And now we can talk about her defects and her strong qualities. They make her one of the best of the whole world. She sang all kinds of music, such variety — French, Brazilian (she seemed to be Brazilian when she sang), Mexican (the “rancheras”), she was fantastic. In Spain, she even sang in Spanish better than the Spanish singers. Oh, yes, two fantastic pieces of music — Barco Negro and Cançao do Mar (Black Boat and Song of the Sea). With her rhythm, her guitars, she had an extraordinary force. (NOTE FROM ME — I keep hearing him say O Arco Negro, but I can’t find any song that she sang that has that title, but there is a very famous Amalia song, Barco Negro, so that’s what I’m assuming). They are exceptional pieces of music, they got the attention of the whole world.“
Then he plays a bit, hesitates and says I have never played this before. Then he plays again (a bit of Barco Negro) and says something like — careful, I don’t think my fingers have lost too much. But I never played this before.... then we fade into the more formal part
I did a little googling on the professor, Joel Pina, who died in February of this year, just before his 101st birthday. He accompanied Amalia for 30 years. The title “professor” was given to him by the many young musicians who learned from him. What a sweet face, may he rest in peace.
Here’s his
biogaphy from the Museu do Fado.
I will have that on in the background this morning, thanks
@gerardcarey