If once the whole history of Bairro Alto will be written
Its golden page will have the name
Of our old fado singer
Domingos Mesquita

In the wide choice you have in Bairro Alto make up your mind and come in Adega Mesquita, the oldest Fados House in Lisbon. There you can enjoy some good moments listening to the traditional Lisbon song - the fado,
with our singers
Flora Silva, Maria de Fátima, Maria Inês
and with the guitar players Pedro Morato
and Sandro Costa

The folk dances are also present there to offer you a varied show. At Adega Mesquita you can both listen the romantic fado songs and some quick folk music which brings you live memories from all the Portuguese regions.

The origins of fado

Fado means "fate", from the latin word "fatum". The origins of this melancholic style of song are still mysterious, but are believed to lie in the 19th century ballads. These ballads evolved from ancient times when Arabs and Greeks passed through Portugal bringing their music and song.

Another theory of origins are African slave songs. Yet another; the Portuguese brought their music to Brazil and back to Portugal including the influence of Brazilian music. The fado has a brother in the Brazilian "Choro".

The "fado" is the musical equivalent to "saudade", a Portuguese word difficult to translate for it seems to belong to the very soul of the people. "Longing", or "yearning" comes closest. The lyrical content of the "fado" concern itself about life's realities. Even though it is telling of pain, passion, tragedy and lost love, the "fado" is not sad music.

Based on a story, passion or a poem often improvised, the fado is performed with intensity and soul. It is accompanied by 12-string Guitarra Portuguesa (pear-formed, medieval lute like) and Viola(s) (classic guitar).