José Mário Branco in collective listening at Coliseu Porto Ageas

• Conversation with Capicua, Carlos Tê and Luís Freitas Branco about the 1971 musical revolution in Portuguese popular music;
• Commentary listening to the album “Mudam-se os Tempos, Mudam-se as Vontades”, by José Mário Branco;
• Launch of the book “The Revolution before the Revolution”, by Luís Freitas Branco.

This Thursday, March 28th, at 6 pm, the Mantras of Coliseu Porto Ageas, which for a year have been enriching the agenda of major shows with moments of reflection and discussion on the most varied themes, present “Aprende a Ouvir, Companheiro”, in partnership with the publisher Zigurate, by Carlos Vaz Marques.

The event, which takes place in the Coliseu’s Ático Hall, hosts the launch of the book “The Revolution before the Revolution”, by Luís Freitas Branco. The presentation will be reinforced by a comment listening to the album “Mudam-se os Tempos, Mudamse as Vontades”, by José Mário Branco, and a conversation with Capicua, Carlos Tê and Luís Freitas Branco about the musical revolution that preceded the 25 of April.

“Aprende a Ouvir, Companheiro” is the return of a cultural practice on the verge of extinction: public meetings to listen to songs, to celebrate the music that anticipated the Revolution.

The March Mantra at the Coliseu has as its theme the binomial “Freedom > 71-73“, inspired by the years leading up to April 25, 1974, announced by two songs by Zeca Afonso and Paulo de Carvalho.

Entry is free, upon prior collection of a ticket, from March 27th, at 1 pm, at the Coliseu ticket office, until the time of the debate. Capacity is subject to space limitations.

In the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the 25th of April, the room that hosted Humberto Delgado in 1958, several rallies opposing the dictatorship and also the last concert of Zeca Afonso’s career are associated with the celebrations of the Carnation Revolution with several initiatives around throughout the year. The April Mantra takes place on the 23rd and will be dedicated to discussing freedom in humour from the last 50 years to the present.

On April 28, the Promenade Concerts invite families to listen to “Canções da Liberdade”, with the Espinho Jazz Orchestra and the voices of Marta Ren and JP Simões singing titles by Zeca Afonso, Sérgio Godinho, Nina Simone or Sam Cooke. The complete schedule of shows can be found at www.coliseu.pt.

The keys to the Revolution, it is known, were two songs that are now part of the Portuguese Popular Music songbook. The role of music in the overthrow of the dictatorship did not just begin, however, in the early hours of April 25, 1974.

Before the political revolution, a cultural revolution anticipated the end of the dictatorship. The regime was hanging by a thread and the inspired breath of Portuguese popular music was the soundtrack for decisive transformations. 1971 was the year of the musical coup, with the leading role in the publication of emblematic albums by José Mário Branco, Sérgio Godinho, Adriano Correia de Oliveira and Carlos Paredes, but also by Duo Ouro Negro, Tonicha, Amália Rodrigues or Marco Paulo; the year of the first Cascais Jazz and the mythical Vilar de Mouros Festival; the year that gave Portuguese music and the captains movement the signature song “Grândola, Vila Morena”.

In this research work, Luís Freitas Branco makes a rigorous, exhaustive and largely surprising survey that documents how Portuguese popular music opened the doors to the cultural, social and political climate that triggered the “initial whole and clean” day and that changed Portugal 50 years ago.

Always confirm with the concert hall or promoter the conditions of access, confirmation of the date or time, ticket place of sale, price, and availability.

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