Lisbon Fado Shows

Fado took shape in Lisbon in the early 19th century; the oldest reliable records date from the 1820s and 1830s. The word comes from the Latin fatum, fate, and the songs revolve around saudade, a deep feeling of loss and longing, with themes of the sea, poverty and resignation. It was first sung by working-class Lisboans such as sailors and dock workers, and Amália Rodrigues later carried Lisbon fado around the world.

A singer, the fadista, is accompanied by the twelve-string Portuguese guitar and the viola, a classical guitar. The singers stretch notes freely, which gives fado its intense, intimate sound. Besides Lisbon fado there is a separate tradition in Coimbra, sung by men in academic dress.

The shows offered here take place in small venues in the Baixa and Chiado districts in the centre of Lisbon. Depending on the show, a live performance can include a glass of port wine, short films about the great performers of the genre, or stories from a fadista about fado's origins and its place in Portuguese identity.