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"Faith just has a way of chosing some names. It's the case of Fortuna, a treasure. She sung in Portugal for the first time in the Evora Classic Festival. The public rose to the ocasion, clapping enthusiastically, not wanting to let her go when the last song was announced. From the profane repertoire came two "humor songs" which she sang among the public, who sang along. They were totally in her hands. After two 'encores' they couldn't help but let her go, after a moving "Dame tu fuerza"."
"Fortuna is not well known... but at each concert she gathers an audience of numerous fans not only from the Jewish community but from many different origins. The reason for this is in the way she brings life to a repertoire of centuries... and also in the visual quality of her performances which include [native] jewelry... " "Fortuna is a Brazilian singer who made an international career by singing traditional Sephardic songs in Hebrew and Spanish-Jewish. Her melodies come from Spain, Morocco, Turkey and from all over the Mediterranean coast. The concert she will give at Bobino Theatre will feature wedding songs from Morocco, love songs from the Balkans, and liturgical love songs, as well as Spanish romanzas. The ornaments she wears on stage are very expressive and her gestures and choreography take the audience to a Golden Age, when Sephardim, Moors and Christians lived together in harmony " "There are pieces from Spain, Morocco and Turkey, with a modern instrumental treating. Fortuna has put into music the poems of [Rabbi] Yehuda ha-Levy, one of the most remarkable personalities from that ethnic group." "The rich musical quality of the Sephardim blends melodies and rhythms from the Spanish, Arab, Gypsy and Jewish peoples. It can be found in the popular romantic songs and also in the music of festivities and rituals of that Jewish group " "Noteworthy were the costumes worn by Fortuna. Black, white, red, maroon... they had an important role in the visual quality of the show. Her voice was sweet and melodious, and she captivated the whole audience. Fortuna cut quite a figure on stage; besides singing, she included some acting in her rendering of the songs. Her movements indicated a careful study of the performance. " "Besides being invaluable, that unprecedented research of Sephardic songs discloses the beauty of the medieval sounds created by the Jews from Spain. Fortuna is now a mature singer who is capable of being in tune with the spirit of those times and, still, of having a modern attitude. "
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