11 Mar “Mulheres de Abril”: Cristina Branco wins José Afonso Prize
Cristina Branco is the winner of the 38th edition of the José Afonso Prize, an award presented by the Amadora City Council to the album Mulheres de Abril (“Women of April”). The record sheds light on the women whom José Afonso sang about, their intimate narratives, and the progressive vision the composer revealed regarding the role of women in a society undergoing transformation.
Created in 1988, the José Afonso Prize aims to honor the Portuguese singer-songwriter after whom it is named, while also encouraging the creation of music rooted in Portuguese culture. The jury of this 38th edition — composed of musician and composer Sérgio Azevedo, representing the Amadora City Council; conductor Pedro Teixeira da Silva, representing the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos; and the winner of the previous edition, emmy Curl — unanimously considered that “the artist’s re-creation of José Afonso’s songs resulted in a unique tribute, which not only preserves the integrity of the originals but also adds a layer of originality and freshness that brings José Afonso into the present day in an exemplary way. Nearly 40 years after José Afonso’s death, this is one of the clearest demonstrations of how his music and example continue to inspire new generations of artists, coming from a wide range of musical fields and representing a variety of aesthetic currents.”
In Mulheres de Abril, Cristina Branco revisits and reinterprets the universe of José Afonso, highlighting the human and social dimensions of his songs and bringing into the present the stories of women who shaped the author’s poetic world. The project stands as a sensitive and contemporary tribute to the musical and cultural legacy of the singer-songwriter. The album brings together eight emblematic compositions: “Endechas a Bárbara Escrava,” “De Não Saber o Que Me Espera”, “Canção do Desterro”, “Teresa Torga”, “Canção da Paciência”, “Mulher da Erva”, “Verdade e Mentira”, and “Verdes São os Campos.”
“In a world of noise and distraction, I choose presence, music, and the message — the message of my friend Zeca. My deepest gratitude for this recognition of our work, of our restlessness. May that always and forever be the crack in the wall of indifference. Some words and gestures are not meant for applause, but to remind us that decency still exists. Mulheres de Abril is that — and perhaps that is also what power fears: beyond the protest that shouts, the protest that refuses to kneel.”
CRISTINA BRANCO
After its live premiere at the Carlos do Carmo Auditorium in Lagoa and its triumphant presentation at Casa da Música in Porto, the show Mulheres de Abril — Cristina Branco canta José Afonso has now returned to the road. In April, concerts are already scheduled at the Espaço Multiusos de Almeirim (April 10), the Cine-Teatro São Pedro in Alcanena (April 24), and the Cine-Teatro Avenida in Castelo Branco (April 25). On May 17, the singer will perform at A Voz do Operário in Lisbon, in a concert featuring the participation of that institution’s Children’s Choir.
Both on the album and on stage, Cristina Branco is accompanied by the musicians Alexandre Frazão (drums), Bernardo Moreira (double bass), Mário Delgado (guitars), Ricardo Dias (piano), and Tomás Marques (saxophone).
