Eugenia Melo e Castro

Biography

Maria Eugénia Meneres de Melo e Castro

Artistic name: EUGÉNIA MELO E CASTRO

Born in Covilhã, Serra da Estrela, in Portugal. Daughter of the writers Maria Alberta Menéres and E. M. de Melo e Castro. In Lisbon she studies Graphical Arts, learns the Piano and Singing. In London she studies Cinema and Photography, in the London Film School.

1977
Creates and acts in the theatre group ÂNIMA, developing a work of visual sounds, concrete, and experimental poetry.

Joins the theatre group "A BARRACA" in 1977/78, where she works with, to name a few, Augusto Boal, Mário Viegas, Maria do Céu Guerra and Júlio Pereira.

1978
Her debut as an actress of film is in Joaquim Leitão’s first film "PRÁ FRENTEX". In the same year, stars with Luís Lucas in the film "TRÊS CORVOS MEGROS", produced for the RTP (Radio and Television of Portugal) and part of the series Portuguese Traditional Stories.

1979 – 1985
Composes, interprets and produces 8 film sound tracks for the animated series "OURIÇO CACHEIRO", for the RTP, in the animation film exchange for the UER (European Union of Television).

1980
Presents, for the RTP, a 24 weekly series program. In "QUADRADOS E QUADRADINHOS", she debuts as musical producer, singer and composer, accompanied by the also new group, Trovante.

1981
Eugénia goes to Brazil and invite Wagner Tiso to record her first disk, "TERRA DE MEL", where Portuguese and Brazilian musicians participate. That year it’s considered the best albun edited in Portugal and Eugénia the best Portuguese singer. With the success of "TERRA DE MEL" and "ÁGUAS DE TODO ANO" (the second albun), she’s distinguished with a SE7E DE OURO.

An intense relation, both musical and personal, is developed with a series of Brazilian artists, which materializes in her following works and is determinant in revealing the route of her career, conquering more and more space, both in Portugal and Brazil.

In this context, she researches the music that was done in the beginning of the 20th century, in both the countries. Narrowing musicals and poetic ties, she affirms all of her liberty in her work.

1996 - Cinema
In 1996 she returns to films, as an actress and singer, with the film "BOCAGE, O TRIUNFO DO AMOR", by Djalma Limonge Baptist. The work is distinguished in the Sundance Film Festival, in Utha, with best Artistic Direction.

1998
Of these journeys, works, concerts and recordings, is born a plan to widen her personal experience to others artists of both countries. She idealizes and creates the television program "ATLÂNTICO", directed and produced in Lisbon in the summer of ‘98. It is transmitted from March ‘99, in Portugal by the RTP and in Brazil by TV Cultura, and during 14 weeks, unites pairs of singers and composers of both countries. "ATLÂNTICO" was idealized and presented by Eugénia, with Nelson Motta, invited to co-host the 14 programs.

16 disks in 20 years
Between 1982 and 2002, she records 16 albuns, including two live editions. All her works were launched in Portugal and in Brazil.

Partnerships
In these works, and in the shows presented both in Portugal and Brazil, authorial and vocal partnerships with several composers and interpreters such as Tom Jobim, Wagner Tiso, Caetano Veloso, Toninho Horta, Francis Hime, Celso Fonseca, Guto Graça Mello, John Lucien, Gonzaguinha, Vinícius Cantuária, Ney Matogrosso, Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque, Simone, Carlos Lyra, Paulo Jobim, Gal Costa, Ana Mariana, Egberto Gismonti, Mário Laginha, António Pinho Vargas, Pedro Caldeira Cabral, Márcio Montarroyos, Zeca Assumpção, Nico Assumpção, Arthur Maia, Paulo Moura, Jaques Morelenbaum, Nelson Ayres, Paulo Bellinati, Fábio Tagliaferri, Swami Jr., Orquestra Brazileira de Cordas, Rio Cello Ensemble, Edgard Barbosa Poças, Orquestra Jazz Sinfónico de São Paulo, Camerata Tiso, Jorge Ben Jor, Eduardo Queiróz, Emílio Mendonça, Renato Consorte and Christiano Rocha.

2002
Debuts as musical composer, completing her authorial side, as she always signed many of the lyrics that she sang. With the CD "PAZ" a new creative window in her work is opened.
With Brazilian producer Eduardo Queiróz, her current musical tone is developed with new arrangements for her music, new languages and permanent open channel for new sounds and new partnerships.
2003
Dedicates the year to launching "PAZ". Records "PAZ, AO VIVO", that is out Christmas of that year. From this work, she edits the single "danças_da_ lua.2004.doc".
Nominated for Globos de Ouro 2003, in Portugal, in the category ‘best national singer’, for her work "PAZ".
In October presents an assembly of shows in Portugal, in a tour that visits the main cities of the country.

2004
Records "DANÇA DA LUZ" and "DESCONSTRUÇÃO".

Live Shows
During the last 15 years, she does various tours all over Brazil.

In São Paulo, she acts in the Supremo Músical, at the Hilton Theatre, the Crowne Plaz