By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
Brazilian diva Marisa Monte will visit Korea for her first-ever concert in Seoul on June 1.
Monte is one of the Brazilian superstars of contemporary Musica Populeira Brasileira (MPB).
MPB literally means Brazilian popular music, a trend in post-Bossa Nova urban popular music that combines traditional Brazilian urban music styles like samba and samba-cancao with contemporary influences ranging from folk to rock and pop.
The 40-year-old multi-winner of three Latin Grammy Awards is a renowned musician who especially shines in live performances.
She has sold more than 9 million copies of her recordings worldwide over the last 17 years since her debut in 1990.
Her music is a mixture of Latin rhythms and melody with a variety of genres. Monte has released a total of nine albums over the last 17 years.
Born in Rio de Janeiro on July 1, 1967, she grew up in a nurturing musical environment. Her father, Carlos Monte, who was a cultural director at the Portela samba school had immersed her in Rio's time-honored samba tradition.
She became one of the most mesmerizing singers with her exquisite combination of Brazilian traditions and modern pop flavors.
She has been thought as a musician who was influenced by the glamorous Brazilian musical traditions of Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Caetano Veloso.
In the upcoming concert, she will offer her best numbers from her albums "Universo ao Meu Redor" and "Infinito Particular" (both with Blue Note Records, 2006) in addition to other numerous hit songs.
"Universo ao Meu Redor" is her latest samba album comprised of songs by classic and contemporary composers.
"Infinito Particular" (2006) is a more personal affair, featuring songs written in collaboration with her many creative partners such as Seu Jorge and Adriana Calcanhotto.
Monte plays various instruments ?the acoustic guitar, bass guitar, autoharp, viola, melodica, kalimba, metaphone, cajon, vocoder and baixo, not to mention cymbals, bells and shakers.
The concert will be held at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul June 1. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 70,000 won. For more details, call (02) 2005-0114.