Carlos Leitão & Ensemble

Last year Cristina Branco invited Carlos Leitão to be a guest at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The Concertgebouw, enamoured with his performance, has invited him to give his own concert, and we have decided to do just the same. He will therefore take the lead in our Fado cycle, bringing the 'saudade' to Antwerp. Our literary guest is Gerrit Komrij, the exceptional poetic performer. Leitão lost his heart to 'good Fado, to women and to the unique beauty of the Alentejo'. Names like Carlos Ramos, Fernando Maurício, Júlio Peres, Maria José da Guia, Fernanda Maria and of course Alfredo Marceneiro convinced him to sing the Fado, to play it and, above all, to experience it. Leitão says: 'My grandfather was a guitarist, and my dad was Fado singer. They instilled in me the importance of Fado and a sense of responsibility about how to perform Fado in the best possible way. For me there is only one way to play and sing it and that is in an honest, responsible and professional way. I have my own style: enlivened, romantic and often lyrical. And I am very proud of the fact that I play and sing Fado with authentic Portuguese soul and gusto. Whether the public will accept you is a risk every musician takes, but I will never fail in my commitment and eagerness'.