SAUDADE BRINGS THE SPIRIT OF PORTUGAL TO BANJALUKA

A touch of Portugal is set to fill the air in Banjaluka on February 20 at 8 p.m., when the fado ensemble Saudade takes the stage at the Concert Hall of Banski dvor. Recognized by both audiences and media as one of the region’s most significant performers of fado music, the ensemble promises an evening rich in emotion and authenticity.

According to organizers, all free invitations for the concert have already been distributed, confirming strong public interest in this unique musical event.

Saudade was founded around a shared vision: to introduce fado, the traditional music of Portugal, to a wider audience across the region and beyond. The ensemble explores the boundaries between traditional and modern fado, collaborating with various instrumentalists and offering fresh interpretations of songs by renowned fado artists such as Mariza, Amália Rodrigues, Cristina Branco and Carminho.

The ensemble consists of Anastasija Minjević (soprano), Ivan Ilić (trombone), Milica Božović (double bass), and Vuk Bradić (guitar) — accomplished musicians whose dedication and emotional sincerity breathe new life into both classical and contemporary fado compositions.

Since its founding, Saudade has delivered notable performances in cultural centers, museums and galleries across Serbia, earning praise for the emotional power of its concerts and its original stage concept. The ensemble also recorded its first live radio concert for Radio Beograd 2 and has appeared on television programs, further expanding its audience.

In addition to interpreting celebrated fado works, Saudade has begun building its own repertoire. The ensemble has created two original compositions, including “As rosas mortas,” which premiered at the Narodni muzej Srbije in November 2025.

With Anastasija Minjević’s refined soprano bringing each note of fado to life, the upcoming concert in Banjaluka is expected to offer audiences a powerful and intimate musical journey — one that captures the longing, depth and timeless beauty at the heart of Portuguese fado.