Fado powerhouse Mariza appears at Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts February 20 | Press Releases

Attention, lovers of the new Portuguese fado music! Mariza, the preeminent star of this traditionally proud, austere and deeply melancholic music makes Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts the next stop on her world tour on Friday, Feb. 20 at 8:00 p.m. The concert is sponsored in part by the Connecticut Commission on the Arts and the New England Foundation for the Arts. Join the Mariza Celebration whether you are familiar with this mega star or not and tune in to CPTV at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14 for the PBS Special "Mariza: Live from Lisbon." Make it a memorable Valentine's Day and watch her in a live performance; then buy your tickets for the Quick Center and actually share Mariza's passion live.

Mariza's early work established her knowledge of the fado tradition, which she learned growing up in her father's fado house in Lisbon. She has grown artistically and put her own stamp on the tradition while demonstrating that there are more ways than one to move within a genre.

Now a mature performer, her latest CD "Terra" showcases the new voice of Portugal, a voice comfortable enough with Portuguese music to have some fun with it. Nourished by her traditional roots, Mariza branches out in new directions. She chose as her producer on "Terra," the Grammy-nominated Spanish flamenco guitarist/producer Javier Limón and she embraces the influences of Spanish, Cuban, Argentinean and African music with her collaborations.

Half Mozambican Mariza welcomes to her album, Tito Paris, a Cape Verdean icon, who blends African influences into the Portuguese musical landscape in perhaps the memorable musical melding on the album in the morna "Beijo de Saudade." "Tito is putting the African part that is missing in me, and I'm putting the Portuguese part that is missing in him."

Fado, the beguiling music that helped catapult Mariza onto the global soundscape, also taunts her like a jealous lover never wanting to be neglected for too long. The curious and passionate relationship that pursues her is evident in the song, "Mihn'Alma." Yet the transformed Mariza firmly stands her ground. With a new musical family surrounding her and the voice of experience and tradition behind her, she reaches out to give Portugal a new sound.

Tickets are $35, $30, $25 and are available online at fairfield.edu/quick or by calling the Box Office at (203) 254-4010. The toll free number is 1-877-ARTS-396. Sign up at fairfield.edu/quick to receive e-mails for special offers and discounts for Quick Center shows.