The Brazilian music icon has filled the Palmeiras stadium for the last time. He now wants to focus on smaller venues like the Châtelet Theatre in Paris, where he is expected on April 3.
The Brazilian music icon Gilberto Gil concluded his “ultimate tour” on Saturday with a festive three-hour concert in front of 50,000 people in São Paulo. With a guitar in hand, the 83-year-old artist showed great vitality on stage.
Surrounded by his musician children and grandchildren, he delighted his fans at the Palmeiras stadium with classics such as Palco, Vamos fugir, Andar com você, and Aquele abraço.
Moved but smiling, he said a few words to his daughter Preta Gil, who died less than a year ago and to whom he dedicated his tour. One of the highlights of the show was “A paz” (“Peace”), which he performed alongside his grandchildren Flor and Bento Gil, aged 16 and 22, ending with a peace sign formed with his fingers.
Concerts in Europe
Gilberto Gil revolutionized Brazilian music during the military dictatorship (1964-1985), alongside Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque, by creating “tropicalism”, a fusion of samba and bossa nova with rock and pop. The concert featured a video appearance by Chico Buarque, sharing the story of Cálice, a song about censorship during the dictatorship.
The artist, who was also the Minister of Culture under President Lula from 2003 to 2008, plans to continue performing but in less spectacular and less frequent concerts. His schedule is still full. Gilberto Gil is set to head to Europe, where he will perform in Rome, Porto, or London. Parisians will have the chance to hear him on April 3 at the Châtelet Theatre.
