Brazilian Musical Legend Milton Nascimento Plays Rio Vivo this Weekend

By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – This Friday, May 17th; Saturday, May 18th; and Friday, May 24th; music lovers around Rio will be flocking to see one of the most revered Brazilian musicians, Milton Nascimento, playing songs from his iconic work as part of Clube da Esquina.

Nascimento is well-known for composing such enduring songs as Coração De Estudante (Heart of the Student) an anthem of the 1968 student uprisings and later of the Diretas Já democracy movement, and Travessia (Crossing), his breakout hit in 1967.

However, it is his work with Lô Borges as part of Clube da Esquina in the seventies that has received the most acclaim and devotion over the years. The first album, released in 1972, came at a time when Brazilian music was going through a renaissance, courtesy of artists such as Tim Maia, Tom Zé, Elis Regina, as well as being the year of the return from exile of Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso.

“Yet looming over them all is Clube Da Esquina, one of the most ambitious records in Brazilian music history,” wrote Pitchfork magazine when revisiting the record last year. The first Clube da Esquina album celebrated its 45th birthday in 2017, with the second album turning forty in 2018. And to commemorate these important milestones, Nascimento has decided to go on a celebratory tour entirely devoted to the music of Clube da Esquina.

He comments, “the Clube da Esquina tour intends to bring to the public a revival of the great classics of the two albums, with more focus on the first album, including songs that the public has never heard live.”

“Also in the show, the audience will hear songs from the Minas and Geraes discs, which came between the two albums of Clube da Esquina and have a connection with them,” Nascimento continues.

He concludes: “I had never thought about doing something that would bring the two Clube da Esquina records together, but now I had a feeling that it was time to do that. And this Clube da Esquina tour is sure to be a very magical event, to say the least. I want to bring an idea that can unite people. And I’m sure this will be my most special project of all time.”

What: Milton Nascimento Turnê Clube da Esquina no Vivo Rio
When: Friday, May 17th; Saturday, May 18th; and Friday, May 24th; 9 PM
Where: Vivo Rio Arena, Av. Infante Dom Henrique, 85
Parque do Flamengo
Entrance: Tickets from R$160 – R$340; currently sold-out