Silvia Nazário

Silvia Nazário was born in Maceió , capital of Alagoas, a state in the Northeast of Brazil. Her career as singer started in her mother’s womb, she says. Silvia’s father was a musician in his free time and sang in the Marajuara Orchestra of Garanhuns, Pernambuco. All her seven brothers and sisters could well have been professional musicians, however only two followed this path. As a child Silvia always showed marked creativity in a range of artistic pursuits. Later on ,as a student of Social Sciences at the Federal University of Alagoas she continued to be in evidence at the festivals and cultural events. At that time took part in the group “Acorda Voz”(Wake up Voice) and as a result of that she was invited by Maestro Osvald Luppe to participate in the university choir. Such a learning opportunity fuelled her enthusiasm for the career she was to embrace.
A growing disillusionment at the prospect of being a social worker, by the end of 1985, with her degree in hands, turned her mind away as she went on to take up the profession of singer ,saying to friends “From the stage I can do more to help the world than sitting in an office and working for the social services, on the stage I feel much freer and happier.”Next she was invited to enter the realm of the night and star in “Calabar e Restaurante”- The House of Jazz and Brazilian Pop Music (MPB) where she started to sing accompanied by the guitarist Claudio Kumar (her partner also in life for the years to come). Step by step he became her teacher, arranger, co-producer and co-author of their own work.At that very place she met sound names of the Brazilian Music universe such as Leni de Andrade (who provided her with invaluable musical orientation), Marcos Pereira and the group Tambores Urbanos.In September 1986, Fernando Collor de Melo via his representative invited her to participate in 35 shows as part of his campaign to become governor of the state of Alagoas, which gave her the opportunity to work alongside some great names of Brazilian Popular music such as Elba Ramalho and Geraldo Azevedo among others.In 1987 she moved to Salvador, capital of the neighbouring state of Bahia and enrolled in AMA Academia de Música Actual (The Academy of Contemporary Music ) where she studied under excellent teachers.In mid 1988, already practising Hatha Yoga she was introduced to the study of the philosophy of Raja Yoga. There is no doubt in her mind that the practice of Raja Yoga with the Brahma Kumaris Organisation has contributed greatly to the development of concentration and creativity which are fundamental for her artistic career.
Later ther same year she left AMA and started to attend workshops (given by the marvellous teacher Andreia Daltro and maestro Kleber Rego) and producing her own shows which gradually won over the Bahian audiences and critics.In 1989 her show “Catavento” (Catch the wind) was entered for the Caymmi Trophy (the equivalent of the Grammy of Bahia) as the best Cultural Event of the year with four nominations resulting in two trophies-The best artistic interpretation and best musical direction –together with Claudio Kumar.At the start of 1990 Silvia was invited to represent Brazil at the Universe Peace Conference in Rajasthan, India. She put together a special show for the event. Her much-awaited return to Bahia was put on hold as she decided to stay longer in Europe, between Britain and Portugal, and finally settled down in this latter country, attracted by qualities to which she attributes great value –calmness, simplicity and purity of heart. Silvia subsequently took up residence in Lisbon where she has been living for the past 15 years and where she recorded four discs:”Menino dos Olhos do Sol”(Boy with the eyes of the Sun),1994 -,produced by Discossete; ”Acorda Anjo”(Wake up Angel),1996 produced by UEMBK; “Tupi Mata Verde” (Tupi Green Forest),1999 and “Saligram’s Dance”, 2004 – both produced by Silvia and Claudio. “Tupi Mata Verde” cd juxtaposes her own compositions with original songs by composers such as Caetano Veloso, Filipe Mukenga, Lenine, Roberto Mendes, Saul Barbosa and Hermeto Pascoal. It has received wide acclaim, not only from the original composers themselves but also from well known artists Marcos Viana,and Kleiton, among others, who praised the musical arrangements and the beauty and purity of the interpretation. .In the year 2000 she produced a single “Heróis de Paz”(Peace Heroes) sung both in English and Portuguese, a work that celebrated The International Year of Peace and was produced for Brahma Kumaris –The Academy for a Better World with the support of UNESCO. Silvia was also invited to participate in the following C.D’s:”Pensa Nisso” (Think about it) and “Timor”, dedicated to fund raising to help African countries and the people in need in Timor LorosaeSilvia Nazário has performed in Lisbon in the theatres of São Luiz and Maria Matos,The CCB-Cultural Centre of Belem, the Casa de America Latina; Forum Lisboa and other cultural centres and local government premises all over Portugal. She has toured with the shows “Brasil-Norte-Sul” (Brazil from North to South), 1996-1997; “Tupi Mata Verde”, from 1999 to 2002; and “India e o Indio” (India and the Indian), from 2000 to 2005, and from that date is starring her newest projects “Eles e Elis” (a tribute to the Elis Regina, the Brazilian Diva) and “Bossa & Outras Novas”.Parallel to the compositions for her C.D’s Silvia has also composed children’s plays for theatre and T.V. programmes: • “Flauta de Pan”-(Pan Pipes)-Trindade Theatre, 1992; • “Piu Piu-Quem tem medo já fugiu” Barraca Theatre and the Gulbenkian Foundation,1994; • “Chi Chi Chiado” -Trinidade Theatre, 1995; • “Dr Cobaya” and “Luvinha” e “Levados de Breca” produced for RTP (Portuguese National Television) • “Tinoni” for SIC (Private Network Television), 1997.Her work has been shown in Portugal, UK, Spain, Brazil, Morroco and India from 1994 to present days.