Teresa Viola is one the most popular and recognisable fado singers in the Algarve and, as our contributor Vaughan Willmore discovers, she’s also one of the busiest.
You may have seen photographs of Teresa Viola adorning billboards in Faro and enjoyed her performances in high-profile venues throughout the Algarve and the Alentejo, including at the well-regarded Fado com Historia in Tavira. What’s less known, is that behind the glamour of performing to appreciative audiences, is a hardworking lady who works full-time as a veterinary assistant at the municipal kennel in Olhão.
Teresa was born in the parish of Moncarapacho and, from just three years of age, was dancing with the Rancho Folclórica de Moncarapacho, an organisation dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Algarve. She started singing publicly at just five years of age and, within a few years, joined a musical group representing Portugal on a tour of Belgium. In the years since, Teresa’s performances and work ethic have established her as a popular performer and a go-to name for local associations on whose bequest she can often be seen performing in local auditoriums, festivals and religious ceremonies.
Teresa has enjoyed a successful career as a fadista, winning numerous competitions and always being in demand. She takes great pleasure from singing fado and describes it as a form of music that’s “full of sensations” and “performed from the heart”. This is very true. As someone who has yet to master the Portuguese language, for me, solely listening to fado pales into insignificance when compared to the joy of seeing Teresa and her contemporaries performing, and the emotion they bring to their performances. It’s glamorous work and high profile, too – photographs of Teresa performing are used in the promotional material of Fado com Historia, a five-star Trip Advisor-rated attraction located in the heart of Tavira.
Teresa often sings several nights a week and on weekends. This keeps her busy, as she also has her ‘day job’ at the municipal kennel in Olhão, which she’s been doing for two years.
Teresa and her colleagues at the kennel look after up to 100 dogs. She describes it as providing “a new family for lost dogs”. It’s not easy work, as they’re often caring for dogs that are unwell and have been mistreated. Much of Teresa’s work involves providing physical and emotional therapy to those who have been through particularly difficult times. The staff at the kennel are supported in their work by volunteers such as Strolling for Strays, local people who take the dogs for a walk, exercise and stimulation.
The kennel staff work hard to provide the dogs with a good temporary home while also endeavouring to find permanent homes with loving families. They couldn’t do what they do unless they truly loved their work.
In addition to performing and working at the kennel, Teresa is a loving mother to a teenage son and supports her husband, a real estate consultant, in his work. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, and her cat and dog.
It was lovely to meet Teresa and gratifying to see someone deriving such pleasure from her work, both in terms of caring for animals and her love of performing fado.
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