Customer Reviews

Omaggio a Federico E Giulietta

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This is a recording of Caetano Veloso's concert performed in Rimini at behest of Fondazione Fellini, and the performance is dedicated to Giulietta Masina and Federico Fellini. Hence the multifaceted content of the album. There are Nino Rota tunes from Fellini's films (listen, for example, to the gorgeous 'Que Nao se Vé, with Portuguese lyrics by Caetano), Brazialian tunes somehow connected with Caetano's perception of cinema and Fellini's films(both by Caetano & others), an Irving Berlin tune 'Ginger e Fred'(Caetano's English pronunciation lets him down a bit but who cares?) and a traditional Portuguese song 'Coimbra' which Caetano sings in European Portuguese,(and which exemplifies rather effectively the differences in pronunciation of Brazialian and Portuguese, in case you're interested). The five-piece band (consisting of Caetano, Jaques Morelenbaum, Luiz Brasil, Jorge Helder and Carlos Balla) sounds wonderful. I bought this album together with Prenda Minha live album, and these two albums exemplify beautifully what Caetano's ingenuity is all about; the sombre and quiet, rather European-sounding 'Omaggio' and the more upbeat (even though it too has its quiet moments) & very Brazilian 'Prenda Minha' are taken together a brilliant exemplification of Tropicalismo in practice. Variety and mixing of styles and influences but everything in essential connection with the whole, and isn't that one of the traditional definitions of true art. Thank God for Caetano. As long as he makes music, we are not going to run out of beautiful thigs.

I am Caetano's unabashed, utter fan, but I was unprepared for the poignancy of this album. The liner notes, by Caetano, are in Portuguese, but I feel compelled to offer a stab at translating his luminous prose describing the events which led to this recording: "I was in New York mixing my album 'Circulado' when I received the letter from Maddalena Fellini suggesting, in the name of the Fellini Foundation, that I perform a concert in Rimini in tribute to Federico and Giulietta. Federico's sister told me that Giulietta had heard the song that I had written about her and that she had been touched. Maddalena lamented (almost as much as I) the fact that the couple had died without our having been granted, whether by chance, destiny, God or the gods, the opportunity for a personal encounter. She had read some of my declarations in the Italian press of my love for the cinematic poetry of Masina/Fellini. Love which stood out as something special in my general admiration of Italian cinema of the 40s, 50s and 60s. The fact that this feeling found a response in the mysterious love of some famous and anonymous Italians for my own music led her to consider the possibility of such a concert. The letter stunned me. On the day that I finally arrived in Rimini to sing, my voice presented a kind of problem which I had never, until that moment, encountered: deep down in my larynx, something almost impeded me from emitting any noise whatsoever, except for a few sounds which, with discomfort but not pain, I managed to produce, and which came out considerably limpid. Such that my control over pitch and especially over intensity was exasperatingly limited. It was cold and damp in Rimini, but I was also filled with enormous emotion. This emotion involved sadness, exalted pride, and some vague fears relating to the meaning of my life. The show that we had prepared already had, for me, a magical atmosphere. And, in our rehearsals as well as at the moment in which we performed, the musicians' degree of inspiration tenderly fell over me like a shadow. They seemed to me beatified. I knew that I would sing 'Giulietta Masina,' but also 'Cajuina' and 'Lua, Lua, Lua, Lua'. I was sure I'd sing 'Trilhos Urbanos' too, as it was necessary to put into perspective my boyhood in Santo Amaro, where I first saw Fellini's films and from whence came to me this metaphysical feeling of a recuperation of a lost time, which so resembles the feeling which I perceive in these films." The recording communicates all this: limpidity, beatitude, intense emotion and the same kind of sweetly self-deprecating metaphysical puzzle which was Giulietta Masina's face. It also serves as an illuminating aural companion piece to Caetano's autobiographical book, "Verdade Tropical," soon to be published in translation, which discusses at length the connections between his ideas about cinema and his own musical oeuvre.

Maybe it's not Caetano's live masterpiece, not as perfect as "Prenda minha" or "Circulado vivo", but it's anyway a precious delight for all his fans (and for those of Federico and Giulietta). His emotion in performing an homage to one of his favourite filmmakers - as he writes in the booklet - and that of the Italian audience, that keeps on calling his name, is perfectly perceptible even through the recording: you can almost touch it. It seems that Caetano profited of this opportunity to go back to the roots of his sentimental sensibility, to his childhood in Santo Amaro, in a personal journey where he is not ashamed to take us and to rediscover such heterogeneous materials as "Come prima", "Dama das camelias", "Patricia" and even the Neapolitan "Luna rossa" (most of them contemporary of Fellini's movies), whose "kitsch naivety" his voice, as sweet, as intensive, as expressive as ever - despite the problems he reports - dignifies turning them into intimate timeless lullabies. By the way, his Italian accent is charming and his Neapolitan absolutely delightful (Neapolitan sentimentalism is rather close to Brazilian). He also gives new versions of two great standards such as "Chega de saudade" and "Let's face the music and dance", both in a kind of village fair style, which sounds very Fellinesque. (Nevertheless I prefer the "Circulado vivo" version of "Chega de saudade", more terse and intense). Of course there are also Caetano's songs, not many indeed, all chosen to fit the occasion, starting from his homage to "Giulietta Masina", the reason why he had been invited by the Fondazione Fellini to give this concert, then "Trilhos urbanos", "Lua, lua, lua", "Cajuina" and the marvelous "Coraçao vagabundo", more poignant than ever.
In short, not to be missed by all true fan of Caetano (and of Federico and Giulietta).
P.S. It may seem strange to talk leisurely about music after the 11th of september, but beauty and poetry are just the kind of things we are not ready to give up, aren't they?

Once in a while comes a CD which is truly unique and of great, if rather specialized, appeal. This homage to the great filmmaker Fellini is such a CD.

In this concert, the singer becomes the one who feels truly honored that he is in a position to himself honor a lifetime idol. Because of this, Veloso's voice and talent shares the focus with Fellini. Notable is the fact that in truth he is honoring both Federico and Giulietta. You feel the regret of his not ever meeting them, the regret that they could not be at this concert to see the effect they had on his life.

This is a very listenable set even if you are not familiar with Fellini's films, but Fellini fans will get more out of it than those who aren't. On the other hand, Veloso has many fans and maybe this homage will inspire many of them to become acquainted with Fellini's films. Let's hope so.

Not as groovy as some of Caetano's other stuff, but truly brilliant, largely due to the complement of Jaques Morelenbaum's string arrangements. I bought this after I had heard this version of Trilhos Urbanos, which I believe is easily the best rendition of that song that he has done. Also a very poignant take on Lua, Lua, Lua, Lua. I consider Luna Rossa to be the gem of this album, and it may well be my favorite Caetano song ever, even if he didn't write it. That songs rips my heart out every time I hear it. Come Tu Mi Voui is also a great way to smoothly immerse oneself into the feeling of this album. Like always, Caetano shifts the pace effectively with Chega de Saudade and Let's Face the Music and Dance. Coraçao Vagabundo also marks another truly memorable moment. I'm really sorry this concert isn't on a DVD, because it is sonically a very strong effort by Veloso and Morelenbaum.

This live album perfectly captures the suave cosmopolitan charm and urbanity that Caetano Veloso brings to the world stage. In this largely-acoustic album, he sings old songs and new favorites, in Portuguese, English, Spanish and Italian (the disc is a tribute to Federico Fellini, recorded in Italy...) It's great stuff -- the music hits the perfect mood all the way through and Caetano, well... Caetano is a marvel. I think this is one of his best records ever... and I've heard them all. Highly recommended.

Caetano Veloso continues to astound, this time with a stately, mature album dedicated to Federico Fellini. This concert performance, recorded in Rome, features Veloso at his most cosmopolitan and suave, singing in Italian, English and Portuguese, addressing the crowd in Italian, and dreamily crooning his way through a primarily-acoustic set of his own hits, a few by Italian composer Nino Rota, and even a Cole Porter tune. For those of us who have heard Veloso's other recent releases, and thought, "good lord, how could he get any better? " comes this jaw-dropping answer. Yummy stuff.

I'm an italian fan of Caetano and i was surprised and moved when i discovered his passion for italian filmakers and for F. Fellini, whom I adore. This album is completely worth the great artist to which it is dedicated and it's incredible how artists who come from so different cultural background end by rejoining through poetry. Caetano's italian is lovely, but his neapolitan (Luna rossa) is absolutely delightful! Maybe it's not my favorite album by Caetano, but it's subtle melancholy, it's refinement and directness make it necessary to all the fans of Caetano (and of Federico).

I treasure this album! It is so obvious that Veloso was highly passionate about this personal tribute project and very inspired by his own youth memories and the rich world that film and especially the films of Fellini have given him.

The live atmosphere is truly magical, with excellent musicians, great delicious melodies and the emotional power of the occasion, and on top of that, Caetano's sweet voice and guitar playing, charming and warm as ever.

As a fantastic singer, he can use a wide repertoire, having a good
explanation why he chose each of the songs, that wonderfully blend together. The very nice booklet with photos, lyrics (with English translation) and with Caetano's notes about his vision on the project and that night, give us lots of information and insight in the meaning of this show.

A great artist making a tribute to another great artist : a highlight!