Portugal joins Golden Jubilee celebrations at Expo with unique line-up of traditional music

Portugal will mark the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations at Expo 2020 Dubai, between December 1st and 2nd, with traditional performances of Cante Alentejano – a unique Portuguese musical expression, listed as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

 

Portugal’s participation includes three performances by the choral group Vozes do Cante (six male voices from the Alentejo region) on December 1st, at 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm local time, at Expo’s Earth Stage, as well as a joint performance with the Portuguese singer and accordionist Celina da Piedade, at the Portugal Pavilion, at 7:15 pm.

 

On the following day, which marks the 50th National Day of the United Arab Emirates, Celina da Piedade and Vozes do Cante take the stage at the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre at 9:00 pm, in a show featuring the special participation of Arab artist Sherin Tohamy.

 

“It is with great pride that Portugal participates in the Golden Jubilee, which represents a historic moment for the United Arab Emirates. The representation of Cante Alentejano at Expo is a unique opportunity to show the world Portugal’s rich cultural heritage, in this case recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”, said the Chairman & CEO of AICEP (Portuguese Trade & Investment Agency) and Portugal’s Commissioner-General to Expo 2020 Dubai, Luís Castro Henriques.

 

Cante Alentejano is a genre of traditional polyphonic singing from the country’s southern region of Alentejo, characterized by distinctive melodies and vocal styles. It is performed without instrumentation by choral groups of up to thirty singers, and its lyrics explore both traditional themes such as rural life, nature, love, motherhood and changes in the cultural and social context.

 

For its practitioners and aficionados, Cante embodies a strong sense of identity and belonging, and at the same time reinforces dialogue between different generations, genders and individuals, thereby contributing to social cohesion.This very genuine musical expression, unique in the world, was declared World Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in November 2014.

 

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