Cristina Branco

Cristina Branco has established herself as one of Portugal's foremost fadistas, with a growing international reputation. It wasn't until 1996, at the age of 24, that she recorded her first album, the live Cristina Branco in Holland. It was an unusual move for an artist who was unknown, but it helped establish her. Released in 1999, Murmúrios found her collaborating with acclaimed fado guitarist Custódio Castelo. A special cultural project, Canta Slauerhoff, with the words of Dutch poet J. Slauerhoff set to music by Castelo, was issued in 2000. The following year's Post-Scriptum saw her further refining the fadista's art of sorrow, pain, and joy. ~ Chris Nickson