Lisbon and Fado

Last night I went out to hear Portugal's traditional Fado music with Jorge Silva, a representative of the Lisbon Tourist Bureau. He gave me some advice on the Fado singers and Portuguese guitar players who provide the ultimate Portuguese music experience. If you're going to Portugal soon, you might want to get into the spirit by listening to the top fado performers. Jorge recommended Amalia Rodrigues (check CD prices) as the top classic fado singer. The new Fado diva is a woman of Portuguese-Mozambican extraction called Mariza (check CD prices), who has revitalized the music among the young. Nobody has dethroned Carlos Paredes as the king of Portuguese guitar music yet (check CD prices).

Lisbon has a Fado Museum to visit (closed Mondays). For more on Portugal's soulful music, see Fado. Also see Lisbon - Fado and Other Things to Do in Lisbon.