The world music festival on the island of Pico, Cordas, celebrates the centenary of Carlos Paredes with the first female professional Portuguese guitar player, Luísa Amaro.

“I have no hesitation in saying that Carlos Paredes, alongside his father Artur Paredes, is the greatest Portuguese guitarist,” says Luísa Amaro. “He is on a par with the world’s greatest musicians. A virtuoso composer and true humanist, he always fought for a better and fairer society. Shy by nature, he shunned praise and took refuge in his guitar. I owe a lot to Carlos Paredes, but what is really important is to know that without people like Carlos Paredes, the world would suddenly become much smaller,” admits the woman who accompanied Master Carlos Paredes for several years.

Luísa Amaro is the first woman to compose professionally for this instrument and to perform as a concert artist and pioneer in the innovative approach she has developed with the Portuguese guitar. She began playing and accompanying Mestre Carlos Paredes in 1984, and has been the soloist since 1996, in hundreds of concerts around the world. She has recorded and released five albums.

At the Cordas Festival, Luísa Amaro will perform on Tuesday, October 7, at the Madalena Auditorium. To reserve a specific seat, tickets can be purchased from September 15 at the Madalena Auditorium Library.

The Cordas Festival celebrates its tenth edition from October 1 to 11, with events throughout the municipality of Madalena do Pico, featuring special moments dedicated to Carlos Paredes, as well as commemorations of 100 Years of the Tenor Guitar, World Music Day, Viola da Terra Day, and the release of albums by Azorean artists, among other highlights. Visit festivalcordas.com and follow us on Facebook: cordasworldmusicfestival.

From Press Release

We thank the Luso-American Education Foundation for sponsoring PBBI at Fresno State.