The world according to Rodrigo Leão
(B2) Portugal had a great idea to choose Rodrigo Leão, undoubtedly the most talented modern Portuguese musician of the moment, to inaugurate its presidency of the European Union. During a private concert given this summer, the homeland of Vasco da Gama and Fernando Pessoa — who presides over the destinies of Europe during this second half of 2007 — had in fact invited the Lisbon composer to his native town, on the edge du Tagus, to give the best of his latest opus, "O Mundo", in front of an audience of European journalists.
Known above all in the Spanish-speaking or Portuguese-speaking world, Rodrigo Leão deserves, in fact, to be discovered in all latitudes. Born in Lisbon in 1964, he helped create the Sétima Legião group in 1982. But it is above all under the label of the Madredeus group, founded in 1985 in the company of Pedro Ayres Magalhães, that he acquired his notoriety beyond the borders. By modernizing fado, Madredeus spreads its enveloping melodies within everyone's reach. But, in the mid-1990s, Rodrigo Leão decided to pursue other, more personal musical adventures. “After Madradeus, I wanted a break. We had toured a lot, given concerts all over Europe. And I wanted something else, to go back to the studio, to put the sounds in their place. he tells us. The reason is both professional and personal. The musician now has three children — Antonio, Rosa and Sofia, the last of whom is almost 20 months old — to whom he wanted to devote more time and to whom his latest compilation is dedicated. To our delight !
In solo, Rodrigo Leão abandons, a little, the pop atmosphere that envelops Madredeus, gives it its cachet but also gives it a certain heaviness, to return to more contemporary sounds, mixing them with more classical influences. From his inspiration, we find of course the ancestral art of fado, which gives depth and melancholy, but also a much wider range of musical inspirations: gypsy tunes from Spain – as in “Noche” – or from Central Europe – as in “Rua da Atalaia” where a little hint of Kusturica hovers – to Brazilian bossa, passing through more religious melodies and French chanson. “La fête”, to a musette tune, and the more nostalgic “Solitude” – “you have to kill the loneliness in you” – thus breathe deeply the words and the stature of Edith Piaf.
The artist gladly confirms these multiple influences: “Brazil, France, the Mediterranean. I'm not looking for this or that influence, it's rather a very intuitive way of music that guides me”. He does not hesitate to collaborate with Beth Gibbons, the singer of Portishead, in “Lonely Carousel”, a piece which appears in the soundtrack of the film “l'Annulaire” by Diane Bertrand. The musical ensemble he formed is within reach of this desire to mix modern and old, a gem. It brings together, in a surprisingly harmonious way, the classic strings - violin and cello -, the popular accordion bastringue and the most modern bass guitar and piano synthesizer, where the composer officiates. But the essential for Leão remains the voice which occupies a key place. Just listen to this "Carpe Diem", in Latin, taken from the depths of traditional hymns, or "Ave mundi", even more surprising, where like angels, the voices chant, get tangled up to end up ascend to heaven. Or this “Rosa”, all whispered with paternal tenderness. It is these voices, divinely relayed by Ana Vieira and Angela Silva, essentially, which give the full measure of Rodrigo Leão's musical finesse, which weave his musical framework and ultimately carry the emotion. Pure, deep, warm, they give, in turn, this air of happy sadness, like a love to cherish, so specific to this modern Portuguese "folk", rich in multiple European inspirations, very soft for the summer, voluptuous for Winter.
(NGV)
Photo credit: NGV - "Lisbonne" July 2007 - (text published for the Rfi Musique website)
Discography: Ave Mundi Luminar (1993), Mysterium (1995), Theatrum (1996), Alma Mater (2000), Pasión (2000), Cinema (2003), “O Mundo 1993 - 2006” (Sony BMG Music Portugal)
