They often say that “From Spain, neither good winds nor good marriages come,” but this time, the Castilian winds—or rather, Catalan winds—brought us a duet long awaited.
In May, the fusion of Salvador Sobral’s genius and Sílvia Pérez Cruz’s powerful voice yielded an album that is now being brought to life on a world tour, uniting the most unique aspects of each.
In a packed Coliseu dos Recreios, the duo delivered a performance that lived up to the expectations of those who came to see the 17th show of their world tour—an intimate show where Iberian sounds and raw vocals reigned supreme.
Sílvia & Salvador is an album that combines songs in languages such as Portuguese, Spanish, and Catalan, but also includes English and French, as well as Mexican rhythms, reflecting the two artists’ multicultural musical heritage. Also noteworthy is the composition of the songs by various composers, such as Jorge Drexler, Jenna Thiam, and Javier Galiana, who appeared in short audio clips preceding some of the songs that make up the show’s repertoire.
The show began with the album’s second song, “Ben Poca Cosa Tens,” a musical adaptation of the poem by Catalan artist Miquel Martí i Pol. Soon after, “El Corazón Por Delante,” a song composed by Mexican composer Jorge Drexler, was heard.
After welcoming the thousands of fans in attendance, Salvador Sobral recalled the long-standing bond that unites him and Sílvia Pérez Cruz, sharing with the audience the memory of a joint visit to a Caetano Veloso concert in Lisbon. “The truth is, we’ve already come here as friends to see a show together. It was the king’s show. The king of music, Caetano Veloso. Sílvia came unexpectedly, she didn’t have a ticket, and she came to sleep at my house.” The Catalan artist, for her part, didn’t hide her excitement about performing in Lisbon, emphasising the special relationship she has with Portugal. “I also want to say that I’m very happy to be here. Very, very happy. I love singing in Lisbon. I always say that Portugal is very important, because my sister has lived here for 22 years, in Alentejo. My nephews are from Alentejo. And I love Portugal.”
The show continued with “Já Não É Tarde,” written by Luísa Sobral, Salvador’s sister, who made a point of sharing the story behind the composition. “I told my sister we were going to make this album. She was the first one, and she got home late, with her four children who are always screaming, and she wrote the song right there with them,” she says. “She perfectly understood our union, the way our voices can blend, and it’s a very beautiful song.”
In 2017, when he won Eurovision, Salvador said that “music isn’t fireworks, it’s feeling,” and the stage where he performed reflected this philosophy perfectly. Minimalist, personal, and designed to let both their voices shine: a stark contrast to today’s commercial music and shows.
After “L’amour Reprend Ses Droits” and “Someone to Sing Me to Sleep,” a song whose lyrics were composed by Salvador’s partner, Jenna Thiam, the duo let their musicians take the stage for an instrumental performance of “Maruta no Choro.”
Back on stage, but this time alone, Salvador sang “Ela me disse assim,” a song that, according to him, “made Caetano Veloso cry.” During a moment of interaction with the audience, she took the opportunity to share her thoughts about the Lisbon she encountered upon returning from Barcelona to perform this show—a Lisbon of avocado toast and speciality coffees.
Next, it was Sílvia’s turn to shine solo with “Pequeño vale vienés.” In her monologue before performing the song, she addressed the importance of music and made a special dedication: “I feel very grateful for my craft; it’s tiring, but it’s a salvation; poetry and music are, for me, something that helps me understand something in this strange world. That’s why I always say that we have to take care of culture so that it can take care of us.”
“I want to sing the next song for the people of Palestine.” As she finished singing, “Free Palestine” could be heard coming from the stands.
The show continued with “Este presente” (This Gift), moving into a more upbeat tone with “Mudando os ventos” (Muting the Winds) and “Muerte Chiquita” (Little Girl’s Death), which contrasted with the rest of the show, which was characterised by more intimate ballads.
After a long-standing ovation from the audience, who believed the show was over, the band returned to close out the Portuguese capital with “Mañana,” sung by Sílvia, and “Anda torturar-me os planos,” a song by Salvador Sobral, sung by himself.
The project of these two artists and friends thus stands as a manifesto of intimacy, poetry, and cultural diversity, making it clear that music, when genuine, is capable of crossing borders, touching the hearts of its listeners, and speaking all languages. After Lisbon, the Silvia & Sobral tour will also stop in Porto before heading to Germany, the next country on the tour. Fans from the undefeated city can rest assured, as the duo is expected to deliver a performance with the solidity and unquestionable quality they have demonstrated.
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