Celebrating the centenary of legendary Portuguese guitarist and composer Carlos Paredes (1925–2004), the “Paredes Experience” World Tour will visit 15 countries over six months, bringing the timeless sound of the Portuguese guitar to audiences around the globe, including the United States.
Honoring Paredes’ artistic legacy and his profound influence on Portuguese cultural identity, the U.S. performances will take place from November 6 to 13, with concerts and community events in New York, New Bedford, and New Jersey.
Organized under the artistic direction of André Varandas and Bruno Costa, the “Paredes Experience” combines live performance, documentary film, and visual storytelling in a multidisciplinary show that celebrates one of Portugal’s most revered musicians, including more than forty initiatives worldwide — from concerts and exhibitions to educational encounters with schools, universities, and Lusophone communities abroad.
“Carlos Paredes was a universal artist who spoke through the strings of the Portuguese guitar,” said artistic co-director Bruno Costa. “Bringing his music to communities in the United States — where so many Portuguese and Azoreans have made their home — is both a tribute and a reunion.”
“Each performance connects memory and modernity,” added André Varandas, who directs the audiovisual and documentary aspects of the production. “The ‘Paredes Experience’ is not just a concert — it’s a journey through sound, image, and identity.”
In the United States, the program will highlight the bond between Portugal and its diaspora through partnerships with local cultural institutions in cities deeply linked to Portuguese-American life. The concerts will feature original compositions by Carlos Paredes alongside contemporary reinterpretations for Portuguese guitar, classical guitar, orchestra, and multimedia.
The Paredes Experience / 100 Paredes project will span 15 countries between October 2025 and April 2026, with performances scheduled in Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia. In addition to the United States, stops include Guinea-Bissau, Brazil, Uruguay, Poland, Macau, and China, among others. The production is supported by cultural institutions in Portugal, the Museu do Fado, and Portuguese diplomatic missions abroad.
PAJ/Staff
Carlos Paredes (1925 – 2004)
Carlos Paredes, born in Coimbra into a family of musicians, is widely regarded as the greatest virtuoso of the Portuguese guitar, an emblematic instrument of fado and Portuguese identity. A classically trained musician and hospital radiographer by profession, Paredes composed some of the most beautiful instrumental works in Portuguese music, such as “Verdes Anos,” “Canção Verde Anos,” and “Movimento Perpétuo.”
Nicknamed “O Homem dos Dedos de Ouro” — The Man with Golden Fingers — he brought the Portuguese guitar to concert halls worldwide, elevating it from traditional accompaniment to a voice of lyrical, universal expression. His work transcends genres, blending fado, classical, and popular music, and continues to inspire generations of musicians in Portugal and across the diaspora.
