Second Voice

José Afonso by Diogo Martins

In a dimension where classical music meets Zeca’s songwriting, Second Voice appears, as an intimate solo performance where José Afonso’s poetry and the rich tone of the cello become one.

Composed, adapted, and interpreted by Diogo Martins, Second Voice is the bow to the timeless Portuguese singer-songwriter, which works are now as relevant and pertinent as they were 60 years ago.

During half of the XX century, Portugal lived under an oppressive dictatorial regime, where voices were shut, people were killed, and where grey was the colour that painted the days. But there was a voice whispering in those silent times. José Afonso (1929-87) - also affectionately called Zeca - sang the change, the freedom, and with his poetry and music, pointed the finger to those who were taking it away, helping to pave the way to the Revolution that took down the regime, in the dawn of 25 of April ,1974.

José Afonso

Second Voice it’s not only a compendium of arrangements of Zeca’s songs aligned in concert: through an intense work of research and by interlining original motifs, melodies and themes from the classical repertoire, and of course, José Afonso’s music, the concert immerses the audience in an unique atmosphere, with adaptations that flow into each other, translating not only the notes and harmonies of the original songs, but, most importantly, reflecting the message and character of the poetry that goes with it.