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By Mabel Pais
MARIZA, Portugal’s Fado star, will touch our souls with a night of breathtaking music at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s (BAM – bam.org) Howard Gilman Opera House, Peter Jay Sharp Building at 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn. This performance will take place on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 8 PM. Doors open at 7 PM. This is a World Music Institute (WMI) presentation.
There’s no singer who embodies the sound of fado more completely than Mariza.
Portugal’s most distinctive music by observers has been described as “dramatic, melancholy, full of longing.” Mariza’s ability to draw the deepest emotions from a song made her an instant star in Portugal, where she’s beloved as an icon. Across her three-decade career, she has stretched fado’s limits, combining it with jazz, flamenco, Latin jazz, and influences from her mother’s home country of Mozambique. Her “dark, rich, commanding contralto” (Washington Post) has led to collaborations with everyone from Lenny Kravitz to Gilberto Gil.
Described as “A dazzling, captivating force to behold” by The Telegraph, the Portuguese artist will mesmerize the audience with her vocal prowess, performing favorite songs from her GRAMMY®-nominated career and 30+ platinum albums.
Born in Mozambique and raised in Lisbon’s working-class district of Mouraria, Mariza was immersed in the rich fado musical culture that resonates throughout Portugal. Inspired by iconic artists and influential voices, Mariza has achieved world heritage status, and her global impact is evident in over 30 platinum albums and a multitude of national and international awards, as well as high-profile collaborations with Sting, Lenny Kravitz, Gilberto Gil, and the late Cesaria Evora.
Although she has taken the world’s stages by storm with her “dark, rich, commanding contralto” (Washington Post). Mariza remains a national treasure, and Portugal embraces her as part of its cultural fabric, continually celebrating every note, song, and concert she delivers. In 2024, Mariza unveiled her most recent album entitled “Amor,” celebrating a quarter-century career of honoring the rich history and traditions of fado while still allowing her singular talent to shine through. WMI is proud to have presented Mariza three times over its 40 years, most recently in 2017 in partnership with Pioneer Works.
FADO
The word “Fado” means fate or destiny and the music is inextricably linked to the streets of Lisbon. Portugal’s most distinctive music that has been described as dramatic, melancholy, full of longing. Fado speaks of love and longing. It’s like a soundtrack to the city. The story of Fado began in the early 19th century. The first gramophone recording of Fado was made in 1902.
WMI’s WOMEN’S VOICES
WMI’s Women’s Voices series celebrates female artists’ role in preserving and promoting their respective cultures and traditions.
WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE
Founded in 1985, World Music Institute (WMI) has served as one of the leading presenters of world music and dance within the United States. WMI is committed to presenting the best in traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world to enrich lives through the arts, promote awareness and appreciation for the world’s rich cultural traditions, and encourage cross-cultural dialogue and exchange. WMI presents at venues throughout the city and depends on both public and private funding to accomplish its mission. Learn more at worldmusicinstitute.org, info@worldmusicinstitute.org or (212) 545-7536.
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Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, Social Issues, Education, Business, Health and Wellness, and Cuisine.
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