11 Apr Cristina Branco releases new single “Teresa Torga”
Cristina Branco expands her tribute to José Afonso — which began with the album Abril (2007) and continues on the ongoing live tour — with the new single “Teresa Torga”.
Preserving its sensitivity and emotional depth, the song — now available on digital platforms — gains new interpretative nuances through a specific and revealing lens: the feminine universe. This approach shines a light on the figure of Teresa Torga, her intimate narrative, and the progressive vision that singer-songwriter José Afonso expressed regarding the role of women in a society undergoing transformation — then and now.
On the eve of the anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, Cristina Branco returns to José Afonso’s musical world, accompanied by the same exceptional group of musicians who joined her on the acclaimed Abril: Ricardo Dias on piano, bringing his lyrical yet incisive touch; Bernardo Moreira on double bass, providing a rhythmically and harmonically solid foundation; Alexandre Frazão on drums, with his well-known versatility and dynamic sensitivity; and Mário Delgado on electric guitar, whose unique sonic world bridges tradition and experimentation. Joining this quartet is the emerging talent of Tomás Marques on saxophone.
Very symbolically, the single “Teresa Torga” will have its live debut on April 25, in a concert at Mercado da Ribeira, Tavira. As part of the national tour “Cristina Branco sings José Afonso”, other highlights include performances on April 26 at the Centro Cultural de Viana do Castelo, and on December 17 at Casa da Música, Porto.
“Women are symbolic and omnipresent in the work of Zeca Afonso. In deep solitude, Teresa Torga made headlines in 1975 for dancing naked in the street. Her silence — that silence that screams within Zeca’s song — has always sounded to me like a silent struggle: ‘A woman in democracy is not a parlor screen.’ 50 years later, in so many places, little or nothing has changed.”
— Cristina Branco