Her passion for music was felt since she was a little girl, without ever having, despite that, aspired to be an artist. However, the show business ends up winning her over while still in college, in her 5th year of Veterinary Medicine. By mere chance, Mafalda Arnauth suddenly finds herself transported to the world of stages, rehearsals and Fado houses.
With the characteristic freshness of a young voice, she first captivates by spontaneity and the memories awakened with her reinterpretations of old hits. Then, she makes the flame grow until it blooms in full fire, lending Fado its own nature, personality and original compositions, revealing itself in a truer way.
IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS FADO
Mafalda Arnauth’s unique voice – and her also unique way of being in Fado – could not fail to captivate and seduce the recording universe. “Mafalda Arnauth”, her debut album, in October 1999, arrives already filled with her compositions, thanks to the encouragement of the producer, João Gil.
The work becomes an almost instantaneous critical and sales success and earns Mafalda Arnauth, at the age of 24, the Revelation Award of the weekly “Blitz”. The following year, she is nominated in the category of best performer for the “Golden Globes” of SIC – and the popularity grows as much as the responsibility.
The premiere in a concert in Lisbon finally takes place in September 2000.
THE AWAKENING OF THE VOICE
In March 2001, Mafalda Arnauth simultaneously edited her second album, “Esta Voz Que Me Apasso”, in Portugal and in the Netherlands. The album features the production of Amélia Muge and José Martins, who direct Ricardo Rocha on Portuguese guitar, José Elmiro Nunes on viola and Paulo Paz on double bass. Inspired by the poetry of Hélia Correia and the brilliant musicality of Fausto Bordalo Dias, it reflects the singer’s deep artistic growth.
In October 2001, Mafalda Arnauth performs her second concert in Lisbon, in the impressive hall of Culturgest, marking the beginning of a tour of several European capitals.
She is an even richer and more mature artist, the one who returns to Portugal, this time to Cidade Invicta.
CHARMS
In 2003, taking over the production of her third album, “Encantamento”, the artist almost completely abandoned the fatality, misfortune and shadow normally associated with Fado. Sadness serves as food for hope; the sufferings, of inspiration; difficulties, of strength and encouragement.
Since the release of “Enchantment”, Mafalda Arnauth has performed around 60 concerts in Portugal and abroad in Italy, Holland, Belgium, France, Greece, Macau, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Spain.
Of these, the most outstanding performance for you is the Concertgebow, in Amsterdam, Holland, for 2400 spectators, due to the importance and size of the concert and because it is one of the most prestigious venues in Europe.
The most impressive hall ever, this is without a doubt, for Mafalda Arnauth, the Royal Albert Hall which, with magnificent sound conditions and exceptional architecture, also provides a memorable performance…
AUDACITY TIMES
After the release of “Maybe if Chame Saudade – The Best of Mafalda Arnauth”, a new album of originals is being prepared for October 2005: an album that covers all the inspirations of her life, composed by the influences of relationships, the meeting with people who marked her, her artistic references (Amália, Bethânia, Aznavour, Piazzolla…), her personal journey, her partnerships and her philosophy of life, attitude and vision, options, doubts and concerns…
In November 2005, “Diário” – the concert is at the Centro Cultural de Belém.
With this decisive album and concert, one of the most important musical groups in the artist’s career is also established: Paulo Parreira on the Portuguese guitar, Luís Pontes on the classical guitar, Ricardo Cruz on the acoustic bass and a particularly special guest, Ramón Maschio, musician and Argentine composer.
Still in 2005, she steps on the stages of Ceuti, Seville, Italy and Azores. The tour in Benelux, at the beginning of 2006, accompanied by the edition of the new album in that territory, sets the tone for what would become remarkable that year. In a few months, Mafalda Arnauth performs in Costa Rica, Angola, Spain, Tenerife, and participates in Uruguay in the concert integrated in the Ibero-South American Summit.
In 2007, the album “Diário” was released in Spain and France and was followed by tours in the same territories, in particular the official launch concert of the album in Paris, at the Cité de Lá Musique, one of the Europe’s top reference rooms.
Also in 2007, the artist was invited to participate in a special show in Homage to Piazzola, under the direction of Daniel Schvetz, singing some of the greatest themes of Tango Argentino in its world premiere.
FADO IN FLOWER
It is in this period that the creation of the “Flor de Fado” concert begins. The sensitivity inherent in the title itself reveals a clear intention to imbue the artist’s reality with the charisma of flowers: unique, particular, sensitive, a symbol of beauty. The search for captivating and strong melodies, for an increasingly emotional, real and transparent expression, for an increasingly clear definition of fado musicianship and not only of the artist, are some of the unavoidable points in this preparation.
Performing for the first time in Mexico, the premiere of “Flor de Fado” is an intense concert.
In September 2008, the album “Flor de Fado” highlights the collaboration of Luís Pontes and Ramón Maschio as composers and arrangers. This group is joined by Fernando Júdice on acoustic bass, Ângelo Freire on Portuguese guitar and Davide Zacaria on cello. In a unique partnership, there is a theme by Olivia Byington with poetry by Tiago Torres da Silva, interpreted by the two singers in a perfect spirit of gathering. Also noteworthy is the debut of Mafalda Arnauth in the interpretation of a theme by Ernesto Leite, in the poetry of Tiago Torres da Silva, with “O Mar Fala de Ti” being one of the pearls of emotion and goosebumps on this record.
In October, the concert takes place at the Centro Cultural de Belém. The moment is one of indescribable reunion with his audience and pure celebration.
