The organizer announced that concerts dedicated to the 50th anniversary of singer Luís Represas' career, scheduled for April in Lisbon and Porto, will take place to honor the memory of the musician who passed away in July.
The organizer specified that the concerts marking Luís Represas' 50 years of creativity will be held on April 10 and 17, 2027, at the Coliseums of Lisbon and Porto. These performances will feature both songs written by him personally and those he shared with the group Trovante.
Preserving these concerts, according to the organizer, embodies a long-held desire and principle: not to allow silence to prevail and not to permit the oblivion of a unique work that shaped and changed Portuguese music.
This announcement was made on the day that marked 50 years since the creation of Trovante, which was August 4, 1976—a date that also marks the beginning of Luís Represas' professional career. The musician died on July 22 at the age of 69.
According to the organizer, friends, acquaintances, partners, and those who found inspiration in Luís Represas felt that performances in the Coliseums 'do not lose meaning or reach.' On the contrary, the musical map remains the same, and attendance will be directed towards those who seek to preserve the testimony and thus respect the purpose of these evenings in two significant and magical halls.
The musical direction of the concerts will be managed by Manuel Faria, who actively participated in Trovante and in Represas' solo career, with the support of Carlos Garcia, a key figure in the singer's recent work, and Miguel Núñez, a Cuban pianist who has performed with Luís multiple times.
Musicians from Trovante will perform on stage, as well as a group that has recently accompanied Luís Represas. The organizer reported that the lineup of vocalists invited for this unique challenge will be revealed shortly.
Tickets purchased in advance for the events on April 10 and 17 at the Coliseums of Lisbon and Porto, respectively, remain valid. Those wishing to receive a refund must contact the ticketing platform BOL; the deadline for refunds is September 5.
Luís Represas' career, which began on August 4, 1976, coinciding with the official formation of Trovante, was divided 'into two directions, although one strongly infects the other,' as the musician said in an interview with Lusa in May when the concerts were announced.
He noted: 'The first phase is the appearance of Trovante in 1976. And [of] all this phase, up to 1992, the story is already told, it is more than told: there were performances [the group gathered again live several times, the last being in March of this year], where the story is told even more.' He added that after the breakup of Trovante until today 'a story is happening that perhaps was not told as much, but was very lived.'
It is during these years, in his solo career, that the performances should take place in the coliseums.
Luís Represas was born in Lisbon in 1956. Before turning 20, he founded Trovante with friends João Gil, Manuel Faria, Artur Costa, and brother João Represas. A year later, the album 'Chão Nosso' was released, which defined the group's musical identity, heavily inspired by folk and traditional music, as well as rock.
Trovante, a name referring to the ancient designation of minstrels who sang and composed trovas, remained active until the 1990s, releasing albums such as 'Baile no Bosque' (1981), 'Cais das Colinas' (1983), 'Terra Firme' (1987), and 'Um Destes Dias' (1990). After the breakup, they reunited several times, notably in 1999, 2006, 2017, and last March.
Luís Represas began his solo career in 1993 with the album 'Represas,' recorded during a trip to Cuba, where he performed with various musicians, including Pablo Milanés (1943-2022). This album, containing compositions such as 'Fora de Tempo,' 'Neva sobre a marginal,' and 'Feiticeira,' was key to his journey, as he told the Lusa agency in May.
In 1996, he released 'Cumplicidades' with pianist Bernardo Sassetti (1970-2012). This was followed by the albums 'A hora do lobo' (1998), 'Código Verde' (2000), 'Reserva Especial' (2001), and 'Fora de Mão' (2003).
In 2008, he released another album, entirely recorded in Cuba, 'Olhos nos olhos,' and in 2011, he teamed up with João Gil, a Trovante associate, for the joint album 'Luís Represas e João Gil.' He later released 'Cores' (2014), 'Boa hora' (2018) (recognized by the Portuguese Society of Authors), 'Miragem' (2024), and a series of live albums.
Part of Luís Represas' history is also the support for the independence of Timor-Leste. The song 'Timor,' with music by João Gil and lyrics by João Monge, taken from the group's album 'Um destes dias,' brought Trovante back together in 1999 and became one of the main themes of the fight for Timor's independence. The lyrics were translated into Tetum by Hanan Gusmão.
Represas was invited by the then-President of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio, to accompany him on an official trip to Timor-Leste in 2000. In 2016, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste by the then-President Taur Matan Ruak. In 2005, he was recognized by the State of Portugal with the Order of Merit—Commander rank.
Throughout his career, Luís Represas collaborated with musicians such as Faustino Bordalo Dias, José Afonso, Carlos do Carmo, Bernardo Sassetti, Pablo Milanés, Ivan Lins, Martinho da Vila, Simone, Jorge Palma, Phil Collins, Compay Segundo, Jerberto Gil, and Carlinhos Brown, among many others.
Represas was also involved in restoration, leading the management of the bar-restaurant Xafarix in Lisbon, wrote the children's book 'A coragem de Tição,' and presented the television program 'Língua Mãe.'
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