Seven years after the last performance at the Festival das Açordas, gastronomic event in the municipality of Portel, the Regional Singing Choral Group, returns to the stage today to sing “I heard the little step”, you have to celebrate the training.On the night of 5 January 1976, a group of young people walked through the streets of the Alentejo town singing the “Sing of Kings” and from there the group that would become famous in the 1990s was born. 80.
In the absence of the group, a publisher recorded a single, a small format vinyl record, which included bird fashion, far from imagining the success it would be.
“We spent seven weeks at the top of sales in Portugal. It was unprecedented and historic for Alentejo and traditional music”, remind LN, Norberto Duckling, former mayor of Portel, current deputy in the Assembly of the Republic, founder and always member of “Regionals”, How the group is known in the municipality.
After the interregnum that the group has experienced since 2016, Jorge Roque, responsible for municipal events, winner “Operation Triumph” of 2010 and one of the voices of the formation that in 2003 edited the last CD, with 32 issues, entitled “25 years singing Portel”, always kept the flame of return alive.
“It is important that 47 years later the group did not disappear. This return is a way of repaying the gratitude and affection they have always shown us.”, justified Jorge Roque.
Of the new elements in the formation of “Regionals”, three of the elements have been part of since its creation: Norberto Rosado, known as the Master of the group”, Norberto Patinho and José Cortes.
The return to the stage of Grupo Coral de Cantares Regionalis takes place this Saturday night, with a concert scheduled for the Municipal Pavilion in the Alentejo village.
As Jorge Roque reinforced, “the availability of each of the singers, will set the group's agenda”, concluded.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
