Dissemination

Book “José Mário Branco – Interviews for the Press (1970–2019)” launched with contribution from CIAC

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The book José Mário Branco – Entrevistas para a Imprensa (1970–2019) [José Mário Branco – Interviews for the Press (1970–2019)], edited by Ricardo Andrade, Hugo Castro and António Branco, was launched on 10 April by the publisher Tinta da China. This work brings together 119 interviews given by José Mário Branco over almost five decades, offering an in-depth perspective on the artistic and civic career of one of the most influential Portuguese musicians of the 20th century.

The project benefited from the collaboration of the Centre for Research in Arts and Communication (CIAC), through researcher António Branco, professor at the University of Algarve and one of the curators of the José Mário Branco collection deposited at NOVA FCSH. CIAC’s participation was fundamental in contextualising and organising the material, giving the work a significant academic and investigative dimension.

Organised chronologically, the book begins with an interview published in 1970 in the Comércio do Funchal newspaper and ends with a conversation published in 2019 in Notícias FCSH. The interviews cover a variety of topics, from musical issues, such as stylistic transformations in repertoires and reflections on the social functions of song, to broader topics, such as political activity, the challenges faced by the left, and forays into other artistic areas, including theatre and cinema.

António Branco points out that, in almost all the interviews, José Mário Branco presents a self-reflective dimension on his creative processes, politics, and relationship with other arts, providing the reader with ‘direct contact with the voice’ of the musician.

This publication is part of a broader research project carried out by Ricardo Andrade and Hugo Castro, focusing on José Mário Branco’s artistic work throughout his career spanning more than 50 years. The extensive collection also includes audiovisual and audio documentation, such as radio and television interviews, which may be the subject of future publications.

The book is available in major bookshops nationwide and is an essential document for understanding José Mário Branco’s thinking and career, as well as the cultural and political evolution of Portugal in recent decades.

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