Text: Rust Costa Machado
Photos: Alessandra Felizari
Fabio Lione and Marcelo Barbosa themselves admitted (and thanked the audience!): Tuesdays are complicated. The musicians were in Porto Alegre on November 30th for a very relaxed and unconventional show. It's an attempt at a fresh start – and on this tour, the Angra are traveling Brazil in 2021. Like a political caravan, Fabio Lione has the chance to get to know the band's traditional audience a little better in this continent. As if he needed to: the eternal frontman of classic Rhapsody never needed to prove anything to anyone, and some people even wonder if Rafael Bittencourt has the correct understanding of the singer's caliber. Talentedly establishing himself as a productive figure in the pantheon of melodic masters, the Italian singer comes loose, night after night (more than 25 shows in a month), giving some samples of the old art of powerful drives, uncontrolled vibratos, and a unique and addictive tenor timbre.
Marcelo Barbosa, an artist who has gained prominence in recent years, now joins Angra with the arduous challenge (now overcome) of replacing Kiko Loureiro , an iconic guitarist who has influenced entire generations of guitarists in Brazil. This is a role that the musician from Brasília performs admirably, bringing with him his own Brazilian heritage, his background as a teacher and professional musician, his ethnic roots, and his passion for metal – in short, the famous Brazilianness that Angra often boasts about.
The setlist couldn't go wrong, and the repertoire consisted mainly of rock classics. The venue raised the screen around 9:10 PM, and the crowd of approximately 150 people spread throughout Bar Opinião (most wearing masks) to hear the duo perform a pleasant and warm version of "Open Your Heart" (Europe).
The audience also enjoyed versions of “Love Ain't No Stranger” and “The Deeper the Love” ( both by Whitesnake), “Silent Lucidity” ( Queensrÿche ), and the requested “Tears of the Dragon” ( Bruce Dickinson ). As expected, songs from the three phases of his current band were performed: “Make Believe,” “Rebirth,” and, from the album Omni , “Always More” – a b-side from the quintet's latest incarnation. The two musicians are taking advantage of the situation to find a new way to consolidate their connection with Angra's prolific audience spread throughout the country. But despite Barbosa's talent, it's evident that the star of the night is the Italian singer, who treats the audience to a more intimate side of the art of singing “for real.” While vocalists in metal generally push their voices to the limit, this artist felt right at home showcasing facets of his singing – including the lyrical side, exploring Pavarotti-esque notes here and there, and especially in the impressive " Lamento Eroico ," the only track from the old Rhapsody Of Fire repertoire. With such a strong presence, even within the limitations of the format, I think Marcelo Barbosa could have offered a bit more acoustic guitar for a country that has embraced this instrument with such skill.
Credit must be given to the cult-like performance and charisma of Fabio Lione. The musician, who usually has an exemplary stage presence when plugged in, has been performing in South America for decades, and from day one he has been praised for his unique timbre, accent, vibrato, techniques, and a comprehensive and admirable vocal range. Sitting on a bench on the Opinião stage, it's almost precious to see how he restrains all that power, relegating himself to romantic sips of wine and a few walks around the stage. His generous performance at Opinião had great moments of vocal explosion, thanks to great hits from the repertoire that ignited the audience, such as "Show Must Go On" ( Queen ), "Dream On" ( Aerosmith ), and "Still Loving You" ( Scorpions ), a 'formative' track for the metal tenors of the 80s/90s. Another great moment was "Wasted Years" (Iron Maiden), which inevitably leveled the playing field between musicians and the audience in their reverence for the English maiden.
The duo prepared to close with “Gentle Change” (Angra), which sounded beautiful on the acoustic guitar, and ended the show with a high-quality, bar-style rendition of “We Are the Champions” (Queen) . By this point, the audience and band were communicating almost as equals, in true Brazilian style, engaging in small conversations here and there. There was even a couple exchanging vows on stage, two members of the audience taking photos with the band and being happy. There was also Lione's eagle eye, commenting on the Sanctuary of one of the attendees (“Sanctuary? That band is really good,” he said and reiterated in Italian-Portuguese), a moment that would be omitted from this account if it hadn't happened to me!
The audience left Opinião eager to return, and full of plans. Several tours in Brazil are confirmed, many of them passing through Porto Alegre – but there is also uncertainty. Lione, along with Luca Turilli and a large cast, is expected to return to the Opinião stage on February 8, 2022, this time leading a Rhapsody renewed in themes and instrumental approaches. The band brings Kamelot , another revamped veteran, along with them. We will wait optimistically, and above all excited to see Porto Alegre once again featured among the dates of great artists.
See below for photos of the show by Alessandra Felizari:
