In 1920, the voice of Portugal came to life. Her name: Amália Rodrigues. A new exhibition, titled 'Ah Amália - Living Experience,' is set to open in the Portuguese capital, promising to shed light on the fado singer's illustrious life in a way that fans have never witnessed before.
"The primary goal of this experience is to celebrate Amália and honor her in a very contemporary language," stated Sofia Moura, the general director of SP Entertainment, the production company behind the exhibition. "This is likely the most contemporary and daring tribute ever paid to Amália Rodrigues. It's crucial because we want her legacy to endure and to introduce Amália to a wide range of audiences, particularly the younger generation."
The production company employed cutting-edge technologies to recount the story of the artist who passed away 25 years ago on October 6 and popularized the musical form of fado. Originating from Lisbon, fado is characterized by its melancholic lyrics and melodies. Before her passing, Amália graced international stages, appeared in theatre and cinema, penned poetry, and served as an unofficial ambassador for Portuguese culture.
"To truly know Amália is to understand these diverse facets of her life," Moura added. "Amália is more than just the queen of fado, the voice of Portugal. We certainly owe her that. Fado is what it is today because of Amália, who elevated fado from the streets of Lisbon to the grand international stages." But Amália was also an inspiration, a poet.
The exhibition is composed of eight interactive rooms, featuring 360º video-mapping, the artist's estate, virtual reality, and a hologram. In the initial room, visitors are greeted with images and information about the global stages where Amália performed, followed by scenes and interactive content that transport viewers to Lisbon's vibrant neighborhoods and fado houses. There is also a room of mirrors, a space dedicated to the four seasons, and a small auditorium where you can see a full-scale hologram of Amália performing on one of the world's most renowned stages—the Olympia in Paris.
