CANTO NONO began its activity in February 1992.
Inserted in the tradition of a capella music, it is formed by eight singers (four female voices and four male voices).
In 1993, CANTO NONO boost and participated in two seminars with Ward Swingle, founder, in the sixties, of the Swingle Singers group.
The work done with this musician was decisive for the evolution of the octet, which continues to maintain, in their repertoire, musical works by Ward Swingle, some of which were purposely created for CANTO NONO.
Following this work, the first record of CANTO NONO was edited by portuguese newspaper "O Público" and released commercially, in May 1997.
In 1998, the first track on this CD, "El Paisanito", was nominated for best performance award in the category of "Folk/World Music" by CASA (Contemporary A Capella Society of America), an American association that brings together vocal groups from around the world. This theme was also included in a collection with the best recordings of a capella songs of the same year, which includes, in addition to others, names such as The King's Singers, The Bobs and The Concordia Choir.
Diverse musical experiences led them to record the soundtrack by Jorge Constante Pereira «Furnas /Uma visita», a setup by Ângelo de Sousa;
Doing the vocal support of the street show "Queima do Judas" organized by the Oporto’s city hall.
To integrate the play "Mais Mar Houvesse" with staging by João Paulo Seara Cardoso and music by Jorge Constante Pereira and the play "Hamlet Machine", a creation and directed by Isabel Barros and João Paulo Seara Cardoso with music by Roberto Neulichedl;
Participating in the albums of João Loio, Jean Sommer, Sérgio Godinho and the CD "Uma outra história " edited by FNAC for World Music Day;
To participate in the soundtrack of the film "A Raiz do Coração" by Paulo Rocha, with music by José Mário-Branco;
To do the choral part of the opera "Cosi Fan Tutte", directed by Bertrand Brouder and staged by José Ramalho;
Participating in Rui Veloso's show on Avenida dos Aliados in Oporto, with the theme "Porto Sentido", arrangement by Diana Gonçalves.
CANTO NONO also produced the show "Sons do Porto – A Cidade a oito vozes", with musical direction by José Mário Branco and texts by Carlos Tê, Germano Silva and Manuel Pina, among others, sold out all the presentations performed;
The track "Etelvina" by Sérgio Godinho and arrangement by José Mário Branco received the award for "Best a cappella jazz song", promoted by CASA;
CANTO NONO has held concerts throughout the country and abroad, particular in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Macau, including the participation in the Macao Arts Festival, the concert "Journey to the World of Voices", part of the MUSIC FOR ALL project, the concert at the Amsterdam’s Concertgbau and the show "2012 FM STÉREO" at the Rivoli Town Hall Theatre;
CANTO NONO’s repertoire is traditionally a capella. However, their work also includes projects with jazz instrumentalists, namely Carlos Azevedo, António Augusto-Aguiar, António Ferro, Quiné, among others, in Concerts honoring Gershwin, promoted by the Northern Regional Delegation of the Ministry of Culture, the Estremoz Jazz Festival and the project "Musicalities – Musical Encounters of Montemor-o-Novo"
CANTO NONO is currently preparing a show about the work of José Mário Branco, which includes songs in which he is the author of the lyrics, music or creator of the arrangements, he, who was artistic director of the group between 2000 and 2019.
Performers
Dalila Teixeira, Joana Castro, Diana Gonçalves, Daniela Leite Castro, Lucas Lopes, Jorge Barata, Rui Rodrigues and Fernando Pinheiro
I consider of great technical and artistic quality the work that Canto Nono has developed in the last 30 years in the field of music à capella. The group's close and prolonged relationship with José Mário Branco – the greatest figure in the history of Portuguese music – allows us to present an enticing proposal, with the necessary quality assurance to hear José Mário's intelligent, interventional, shrewd and beautiful voice(s).
When I heard about the new Canto Nono´s project, I couldn't help but think about the importance of it being able to materialize at the present historical moment. A group that sings "a cappella", with the stripping and courage that it means, take one of the most "transgressor" legacies of Portuguese Music – the work of José Mário Branco.
A few years ago, when I watched Canto Nono, I remember I thought there should be more like this in Portugal.
With the hope that one day the country would have this level of creativity and competence.
I came full and amazed!
I'm still hoping...
Long live Canto Nono
Oporto hugs!
With this show, Canto Nono intends, from songs, lyrics and arrangements by José Mário Branco, to reach the ends of music to unsettle and make the artistic memory of the Master endure.
What a happy and profound musical vehicle not to drop into oblivion such a unique work! What a promising reunion, now in the territory in which Life and Love overcome Death itself – which, after all, "never existed"!
It is useless to want to separate the waters of Canto Nono and Zé Mário Branco. But more than friendship, I'm talking about the admiration for Canto Nono. For everything they've done and what they’re proposing to do now. The songs of Zé Mário as a starting point, of high seas and restlessness, of continuous travel, until dock to another shore, in a certain way.