THE KING WITHOUT A CROWN
Tribute to Fernando Maurício

One of the great Fado singers of the 20th Century, raised in the Mouraria neighbourhood where he spent a lot of his time until the end of his life, Fernando Maurício is one of the archetypes of the roots and the heart of Fado. He was gifted with a very rare and blunt emotional honesty, even for this kind of music that was born to work these subjects. To hear him, is to hear the real Lisbon (not the one of postcards, of tourism, or other speculations), of the streets, heartbreaks, struggles, and celebrations, in a wide repertoire that he created mainly by making popular many Fado songs by different authors — which often times became more celebrated through his voice, and in some cases practically final versions.

Awarded by all kinds of collectivities, associations, and later in his life by cultural and governmental institutions themselves, he always dedicated himself more to working in Fado clubs, at a more community-based scale, local and sincerely supportive. He learned from many, shared with others, and perhaps taught even more.

Every year, the parish council of Santa Maria Maior, right at the start of Capelão street, around July 15, the date of his death, usually celebrates him during several hours in his neighbourhood. This year, because of the various limitations imposed by the times we are living, this same celebration took place on July 19 at Casa-Museu Fernando Maurício, a simple space and with an impressive patrimony of gratitude from those that knew him and were touched by his music, and was streamed on digital channels.

In order to emphasize his human and artistic legacy, and also some of those who — in between their other crafts — still cherish and spread his music, on July 26 we present an additional tribute to Fernando Maurício in the context of the programme Terra Irada [Angered Land], curated by Pedro Gomes, with a gathering about his life and work — of which several people that knew him well, including family, will take part — followed by a concert around some of his most famous songs, in order to continue to promote to other audiences and generations his magnificent work which is completely inseparable from the deepest parts of the soul of the city.

Gathering with
Ana Maurício
Cátia Miranda
Fernando Jorge
Miguel Ramos
Vítor Miranda
16.00 - 17.00

Performances by
Cátia Miranda
Fernando Jorge
Miguel Ramos
Vítor Miranda
Sandro Costa (Portuguese Guitar)
Ivan Cardoso (Classical Guitar)

In collaboration with Santa Maria Maior’s parish council