Archive for 'Brazilian Profile'
Brazilian Profile: Roberto Carlos Posted by Rachel on Apr 29, 2009
Though Brazil is known for its samba and bossa nova musicians worldwide, it may come as a surprise that Brazil’s most successful singer is actually a Barry Manilow-style crooner. In his fifty year career, Roberto Carlos has sold over 100 million albums, more than any Brazilian or Latin American musician. Born in 1941, Roberto grew…
Brazilian Profile: Rodrigo Santoro Posted by Rachel on Apr 15, 2009
Rodrigo was born on August 22, 1975 in Petrópolis, a mountain town north of Rio de Janeiro. The son of an engineer and an artist of Italian descent, he grew up in Rio and went to PUC-Rio to study journalism. After he graduated, he spent a year in Globo TV’s Actor’s Workshop, and began his…
Brazilian Profile: Fernando Meirelles Posted by Rachel on Apr 3, 2009
Fernando Meirelles was born on November 5, 1955 in the city of São Paulo. The child of a doctor, he had the opportunity to travel and to be exposed to different cultures. He attended the University of São Paulo and majored in architecture, but began experimenting with film. When he graduated, he joined with friends…
Video Learning Series in Portuguese Posted by Rachel on Mar 2, 2009
Continuing with the video learning series in Portuguese, we’re going to take a look at some videos today to help practice listening comprehension. In this week’s three part series, we’re going to learn about Machado de Assis (1839-1908), one of Brazil’s most acclaimed writers.
Brazilian Profile: Elis Regina Posted by Rachel on Feb 6, 2009
Elis Regina Carvalho Costa is one of Brazil’s most celebrated female singers, and one of its most famous MPB performers. Born in 1945 in the capital of the southernmost state in Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, she began her career early at age eleven, when she performed on a children’s radio show. She recorded her…
Brazilian Profile: Guilherme Marche Posted by Rachel on Jan 26, 2009
Born in 1982, he’s become a millionaire at the age of 26 as a professional rodeo bullrider. He lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife and two children, where he runs a ranch and a steakhouse, as well as competing in rodeos. But surprisingly, this cowboy is Brazilian. Marche, dubbed Sabonete (Soap) as a child…
Brazilian Profile: Elza Soares Posted by Rachel on Nov 24, 2008
One of Brazil’s greatest samba singers, Elza Soares is not only a Brazilian cultural icon, but a symbol of endurance and courage. Born in 1930 in the Água Santa shantytown in Rio de Janeiro’s Zona Norte, Elza grew up in extreme poverty. Her mother was a washerwoman, and sometimes forced her to nurse from a…