A L'Olympia [Live]

Cesaria Evora | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 18, 2003)
• Original Release Date: October 22, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Melodie
• ASIN: B000005FVB
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,367 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #16 in Music > World Music > Africa > Cape Verde
  • #49 in Music > Indie Music > World Music > Africa
  • #81 in Music > World Music > South & Central America > General

Track Listings

1. Guanabarinu

2. Papa Joachin Paris

3. Cinturao Tem Mele

4. Miss Perfumado

5. Mar Azul

6. Bia d'Lulucha

7. Lua Nha Testemunha

8. Reanima

9. Angola

10. Vida Tem Um So Vida

11. Cize

12. Cumpade Ciznone

13. Bia

14. Estanhadinha

15. Angola

16. Sodade

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A staggering, incendiary talent..., January 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A L'Olympia (Audio CD)

One can only voice regret at Ms. Evora's relatively late entry into the recording world, as all of her discs have a smoldering intensity and beauty that reveals a seemingly endless cache of ideas. Hence, this creates an insatiability in her fans for ever more recordings. Of all to date, A L'Olympia rewards the most--being the longest. An exemplary performance, and the songs! The shimmering "Reanima," a haunting "Papa Joachim Paris," two great versions of "Angola," and the finale "Sodade," are in need of no further explanation. Like most of her records, this is with traditional orchestration, unlike the odd "modern" production touches Ramiro Mendes added to much of her earlier "Destinho De Belita," presumably to introduce Evora to the French pop market.

We can only hope many more records flow forth from Cape Verde--the thought of a prolific sampling on the order of, say, Coltrane, is dizzying.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Voice of Cabo Verde, March 10, 2004

By 

James Ferguson (Vilnius, Lithuania) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A L'Olympia (Audio CD)

My head still rings from seeing her in Vilnius last night. It was an incredible treat having her come and sing to an audience she held in the palm of her hand. Cesaria has had a long and storied career, with her success coming too late for her to really enjoy. She had to be helped onto the stage, but the Barefoot Diva stood through out the performance, taking a short smoke break, as her young band treated the audience to a lively Salsa piece. She seemed visibly moved by the strong reaction of the audience, which showered her with flowers after a wonderful encore.

At 63, she keeps putting out the albums but this live performance remains the most magical of her albums in my collection. It moves between melancholy mornas and lively samba rhythms, without missing a step. So many favorites on this remarkable CD, but I particularly enjoy Papa Joachin Paris and Sodade. She gives the latter a heartfelt quality that speaks of the long road she has taken to become one of the leading voices in World Music. It is a lovely ballad, apparently derived from her Cabo Verde roots, but made famous in the 70's by Angolan superstar Bonga. Anyway, you will enjoy this CD from beginning to end. Seventy-two minutes of wonderful music that makes you really feel as though you were there at the Olympia.