Brazil beats seduce Joburg

Samba sounds had the audience dreaming of lazy days on Brazil’s beaches, or dancing in the aisles. Teresa Cristina celebrated Brazil’s national day in Johannesburg.
IF you closed your eyes, the smooth crooning and jaunty rhythm of the music transported you straight to a deckchair with your toes buried in the sand, a cocktail in your hand and Sugar Loaf Mountain rising majestically behind you.

Reresa CritinaTeresa Cristina performs at the Joburg Theatre (Photo: Hush Naidoo)Once you opened them again, however, you were back in your seat at the Joburg Theatre, watching and listening to Teresa Cristina, Brazil’s 2010 top female singer.

She swayed on to the Mandela Stage on 7 September in celebration of Brazilian National Day, as part of Joburg’s Arts Alive International Festival, which runs from 1 to 25 September. Joining her to raise the roof was Afro-Brazilian group Napalma, which is a collaboration between musicians from Brazil, Mozambique and South Africa, formed in 2004.

Cristina’s powerful vocals mixed with the feel-good tunes from the band had even non-Portuguese speaking audience members clapping their hands and tapping their feet. She said: “Even though I do not speak much English, I will try tonight … It is great to be in Johannesburg.”

The language barrier did not hamper the audience’s enjoyment of the evening, though, as everyone seemed to be speaking the universal language of music. People of all ages got up to dance, first taking to the aisles and then, as their numbers grew, annexing a section of the stage.

From little girls not measuring more than two bricks high to muscular men with tattoos trailing up their leg, the beat infected the whole audience. Hot and sultry samba rang from the rafters, leaving no doubt that Brazil in the summer was the only place to be.

Cristina started singing in 1998, and went from performing in one bar to singing in numerous venues. Further recognition followed with her first CD, A música de Paulinho da Viola, which was a tribute to Da Viola’s 60 years in the industry.

She has since gone on to perform all over the world from Japan and Germany to Russia, Italy and, of course, South Africa.

Teresa Cristina, accompanied by Napalma, appeared at the Joburg Theatre for one night only to celebrate Brazilian National Day, on 7 September. For more information on other Arts Alive events, visit the Arts Alive website.