In a career marked by tragedies, the legendary Brazilian samba singer Elza Soares persevered as a singular voice for the voiceless. Emerging from the favelas of Rio, where she was forced to marry at 12 and gave birth to her first child at 13, Soares’ great success came when she appeared on a Brazilian talent show, supposedly to buy medicine for her children. Her otherworldly voice and fiery lyrical perspective earned her both admirers and detractors in equal measure, eventually leading to her being blacklisted by the Brazilian dictatorship and fleeing the country, only to return years later acclaimed as a national heroine.
Now in her 70s, Soares has maintained a cohesive style that is deeply informed yet somehow unbounded by her personal struggles. Her latest album, A Mulher do Fim do Mundo, was a continuation of her lifelong work on behalf of the oppressed, intended “to speak about women, to speak about blackness, and to speak about sex.”
As part of the Red Bull Music Academy Festival New York 2017 and in partnership with Brasil Summerfest & City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage, Soares will bring her undeniable charisma and unforgettable voice to a performance at The Town Hall. Elza Soares will also return to NYC this summer as part of Brasil Summerfest. Elza Soares’ performance at Brasil Summerfest will be announced soon. Where: Town Hall, New York When: May 19