Arthur Verocai will give an exclusive German concert as part of the International Summer Festival 2026: together with the 30-piece Nu Civilisation Orchestra, the Brazilian legend will bring his innovative yet luxuriant sound to the Grand Hall of Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie on 19 August.
Buy tickets
Rediscovered for eternity
When the self-titled debut Arthur Verocai appeared in 1972 – a wild yet supple amalgam of folk, bossa nova, jazz, psychedelia and funk – the now 81-year-old was already established as an arranger. At first, however, the album found little resonance with either audiences or critics. Decades would pass before it became the milestone in Brazilian music history it is considered today; Verocai’s subtle critique of Brazil’s military dictatorship at the time also initially went largely unheard.
It took a new generation of admirers, among them the style-defining rapper MF DOOM, to bring Verocai’s sumptuous sound to a wider audience. Three decades after its release, the debut was finally reissued. Two further albums followed, Saudade Demais (2002) and Encore (2008); in this late work, Verocai combines cinematic arrangements, samba and soul with particular warmth.
