Exclusive Interview with the Fado singer Ana Moura by Dessislava Berndt
Photo: CLAUDIA SCHEER VAN ERP PHOTODESIGN SCHEERP.DE
The Festival Klangart is held for the 4th time this year in Wuppertal. Art, music and nature can be filed and appreciated together with world known musicians bringing the richness of their music culture.
The director of the Festival, Ernst Dieter Fränzel, invites the musicians to come to this wonderful place Skulpturenpark Waldfrieden in Wuppertal where you can find nature, piece and the great sculptures of the famous English sculptor and head of the Art Academy in Düsseldorf Tony Cragg.
I am lucky to present to you exclusively the Fado singer Ana Moura who performed there on July 14.
The performance of Ana and her musicians enchanted all and even the rain stopped for the duration of the concert. Ana Moura is not only beautiful but also a very pleasant person. Even when she speaks her voice is deep and soft at the same time. I was very impressed by her appearance. The concert was an unforgettable experience for me. Thank you Ana! Thank you Klangart!
Photo: CLAUDIA SCHEER VAN ERP PHOTODESIGN SCHEERP.DE
Ana, is this the first time you have been in Wuppertal?
Yes, this is my first time in Wuppertal but I love this place (Villa Waldfrieden) very much. I like the Pina Bausch Dance Theatre. I heard also about the Schwebebahn.
Since 2011 Fado is part of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage. What does Fado mean to you?
Fado for me is a soul expression. Fado is about feelings and emotions and also about accepting these emotions and learning how to live with them.
You have worked with such famous musicians like The Rolling Stones and Prince. What was the most surprising thing working with such musicians?
Surprising was the idea of doing something with them. I never thought about such collaboration. Everything was surprising for me; even meeting them in person and realizing that they are so down to the earth. It was very important to me. We should always explore all the ways of music.
Photo: Paulo Segadães
To do the experience with such musicians was very important to me because now I have the will to discover new things, to try new and different things with my interpretation as Fado singer. For example, Prince did some jams with his friends and invited us. I sang Fado and the others started to jam and play.
You worked together with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band. How was it to combine Fado and Jazz?
To play with an orchestra is completely different. Fado is like jazz in one way of freedom. We have the traditional Fado that lives a lot from improvisation. And suddenly with an orchestra everything is written and we have to respect it. I was not used to that because I am used to singing Fado and improvising. But it was a great experience.
Photo: CLAUDIA SCHEER VAN ERP PHOTODESIGN SCHEERP.DE
Would you please tell us something about your plans?
I am preparing my new album and I am exploring the universe. I met different musicians and recorded the album in Los Angeles. I worked with a very famous producer – Larry Klein and I decided to do a different thing. In October we will start to promote the album.
I will have tours at the end of October and the album will be released in the whole world. I have already a few tours for next year: 11 concerts in Mexico, in Portugal, we will be 1,5 months touring in the USA.
Photo: CLAUDIA SCHEER VAN ERP PHOTODESIGN SCHEERP.DE
Ana, do you know anything about Bulgaria?
I know the Bulgarian music, especially the traditional women voices. I am curious about Bulgaria because of the music. Maybe next year I can come for a concert.
Photo: CLAUDIA SCHEER VAN ERP PHOTODESIGN SCHEERP.DE
What is the biggest challenge for you as an artist?
I don’t usually plan the things I want to achieve. I like the beauty of surprise like the collaboration with The Stones and Prince. I love to live with my emotions like that. In my concerts I feel free and love to be on stage. I also love jamming and being with other musicians. In Fado we have the tradition that the musicians are there for the Fado singer. I always try to change this with my musicians because I love to be with them. It is like talking with them and sharing things when we are on stage. Therefore I like the surprise in jamming and sharing things.
What is the most important thing you would like people to know about you?
Actually, I hate to speak about me. People should know that I am a shy person. I have a lot of respect for music. I hate to see people suffering. I cannot get use to it.
Photo: Paulo Segadães
I love to feel how people with their different cultures and personalities react to my music. Fado is loved all over the world. I have been in Asia, Africa, Brazil, USA, Spain, North Europe, and 2 weeks ago I was in Istanbul. The reaction was amazing.
Ana, thank you very much for the interview! We wish you and the musicians no rain and good luck for the performance tonight!
Photo: Paulo Segadães
Ana Moura was born in Santarém, Portugal. She is an internationally recognized Portuguese fado singer.
Her debut album was “Guarda-me a vida na mão” (2003), followed by “Aconteceu” (2005) and “Para Além da Saudade” (2007).
She sang in various nightspots in Lisbon and became known on television, performing fado with Antonio Pinto Basto. The last album was to reach triple platinum for sales exceeding 55,000 units. The album stayed in the Top 30 in Portugal for 120 weeks. For this album, she received a nomination for the Golden Globes in the category of Music, Best Individual Performer.
In 2007, Ana Moura joined the Rolling Stones in concert at the Alvalade XXI stadium in Lisbon. She sang “No Expectations” with Mick Jagger. After two big concerts in coliseums of Porto and Lisbon, Ana Moura launched her first live DVD on November 24, 2008.
She appeared at the World Music Institute concert. In 2008, Ana Moura received the prize for “best performance Amalia”.
In 2009 Ana started collaboration with Prince. They were together on stage in Lisbon. Her latest album, “Leva-me aos Fados” (“Take Me to a Fado House”), released on 12 October 2009 has gone platinum, and reached the Top 10 of the bestselling albums. Concerts in Portugal, London, Canada, Austria and Germany followed. She performed in 2010 and 2011 at the San Francisco Jazz Festival.
New album recorded in Los Angeles, at the historic Henson Recording Studios and produced by the famous producer Larry Klein (winner of four Grammys and producer of Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot, Tracy Chapman, Raul Midón and Luciana Souza) should be released in October 2012.
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