It was not enough to confirm expectations around Lux – a show that is much more than a concert, almost a dedication to the most different genres that shaped her development as an artist and led her to the success she has today – Rosalía went further and demonstrated a synergy with the public that is rare to see in someone of her caliber, in the first of two concerts in the largest concert hall in the country, the Meo Arena, in Lisbon, on the night of last Wednesday, April 8th.
“I remember the first time I was in Portugal, in that wonderful theater in Braga”he said, to the delight of the audience, remembering the performance at Theatro Circo, in the northern city, in 2017. “I’m very happy to be back here. Thank you, Lisbon.” Throughout the performance, the singer insisted on a sincere interaction, whether it was to thank her as many times as possible, say how happy she was to be here or even take a photo with a fan who came from Mozambique for the show.
In almost two hours of show, divided into four acts, the Catalan singer lives up to all the distinctions on the album LUXconsidered his greatest work of his career last year. If at first you still sailed into more contemplative waters – despite the audience already joining in unison on the opening track, Sex, Violence and Tiresand end up petrified in My Christ Cries Diamonds –in the second it would be impossible for those occupying the counters to remain seated.
After all, how many Rosalías can fit on one stage? From saint to savage, from fragile porcelain Porcelain to the passionate and charming Can’t Take My Eyes Off Youuntil empowered, confident and assertive in Perla – another moment of full synergy -, the artist constructs a performance that moves between opera and ballet, and music that ranges from flamenco to pop, passing through classical and electronic with tunes from Berlin raves and even… to fado.
“When I started my career, I sang in bars, restaurants, weddings, baptisms and, during that time, I got to know and try to interpret different genres and artists. One of those times, I fell in love with the voice of an artist”, began Rosalía.
“It’s incredible because, 15 years later, I have the pleasure of inviting her to sing with me. Ladies and gentlemen, Carminho. Master. Thank you for bringing this music into my life. Can we sing both?”, he asked the Portuguese when welcoming her on stage to perform a song. Memoryalso from the last album. “The way this woman sings breaks me in two”, she said, visibly amazed.
Between the third act – ended with Jugular -, Rosalía also included, as has been the rule on tour, songs from other successful albums. “Lisbon, what is it like? Do you know Motomami?”, he said, to the delight of the audience, before interpreting Saoco. Not final, Desperate also took place.
The tone was lowered to something more contemplative, but no less engaging for the audience, in the last tracks, with Robot Bride e Rani firebefore plunging into the void and seeing the curtains close.
I would return for one last act, with Magnoliaalready in an almost divine place, of total acclaim, in full synergy and catharsis with the public. Multifaceted, Rosalía enchanted and moved an audience through her performance and interpretation, whether in Catalan, Spanish, Italian, Latin, English, Hebrew, Sicilian dialect or Portuguese.
Tickets for the second performance, on Thursday night (9), are sold out, as is the premiere. For those who were unable to secure a place, they can only wait for Rosalía’s return, which, judging by her words, may not take long.
“I hope you enjoyed the show as much as I did and that life makes me come back here. Eternally grateful to you, Lisbon.”
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