Chongqing - On October 29, the Amara Quartet from Porto, Portugal, performed an enchanting concert at the Chongqing Performance Arts Center, marking a highlight of the 14th China Art Festival's performance program. Centered on the voices of young female artists, the world music concert blended poetry, modernity, and emotion, taking audiences on a soulful journey across the seas.

On October 29, the Amara Quartet from Porto, Portugal, performed an enchanting concert at the Chongqing Performance Arts Center, marking a highlight of the 14th China Art Festival’s performance program. (Photo/The event organizer)

As the sound of vocals, accordion, classical guitar, and cello intertwined, the audience was immersed in melodies of love and longing. When the final note faded, prolonged applause filled the hall. Many in attendance shared that it was their first time hearing fado, yet they were deeply moved by "the gentle yet powerful energy" of the performance.

Contemporary female expression

Formed by four young Portuguese musicians — Joana Almeida, Laura Rui, Sónia Sobral, and Susana Castro Santos — the Amara Quartet is the first all-female fado quartet in Portugal's history. Their music reinterprets traditional fado through a feminine lens, exploring the contemporary themes of love and selfhood through the intersection of poetry and melody.

The concert, titled DESAMOR, 'Songs of Heartbreak,' reflected on the fading of love and the rebirth of the heart. By juxtaposing original works with traditional pieces, the group expanded fado from a "melancholic folk song" into a "lyrical epic of women." One special segment paid tribute to Luís de Camões, Portugal's literary giant, giving new life to his timeless verses through contemporary voices.

On October 29, the Amara Quartet from Porto, Portugal, performed an enchanting concert at the Chongqing Performance Arts Center, marking a highlight of the 14th China Art Festival’s performance program. (Photo/The event organizer)

The Amara Quartet's performance injected fresh international vitality into Chongqing's youthful arts landscape. Their work demonstrated how young artists can transcend language and geography, using music to express universal human emotions and share the warmth of the city's stage with the world.

Blending voice, guitar, cello, and accordion, the quartet gave traditional music new structure and breath—retaining the soulful depth of fado while presenting it with a modern poetic spirit and courage.

"We hope to let ancient fado resonate with contemporary emotions and make music a way for women to see the world," said Artistic Director Joana Almeida. Through their music, the Amara Quartet bridges cultural divides, allowing global audiences to hear the voices of young creators.

Youth Art Week ignites urban creativity

The concert was part of the "Light Up Life" Youth Art Week · New Voice Theater Series, a key initiative of the 14th China Art Festival. The series will continue with five additional performances, including Dialogues with Monet by Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, Forging the Sword by the Central Academy of Drama Experimental Theater Troupe, and AI vs. Human, a sci-fi suspense comedy by BETTER Theater.

These productions reflect the creativity and vitality of China's new generation of artists, blending innovation with realism. Through such diverse artistic practices, the Youth Art Week continues to ignite Chongqing’s cultural energy — letting the voices of young creators keep lighting up life across the city.