Executive & Artistic Director
Thor Steingraber
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Mariza
Thu Nov 6 | 8pm
Run time: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes with no intermission
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Mariza on Portugal’s Beloved Musical Traditions
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Join the Journey:
2025–26 Season at The Soraya
Each Soraya season is a journey. A word that suggests many meanings, a journey can be far from the here and now, an exploration of what’s new or novel, a return to timeless themes and ideas that are affirming beyond being familiar.
When we imagine this journey, a year or more in the planning, you are always on our minds — the many audiences from the Valley and beyond, with varied tastes and interests, unique cultures and communities, and a wide range of life experience.
The 2025–26 Season journeys farther than any previous: the nightlife of Lisbon, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City; the daily life of West Africa; the spiritual realms of Alice Coltrane and Duke Ellington; the masterworks of Brahms and the megahits of Quincy Jones; and much more.
Program Note
Fado is a Portuguese musical form that is powerful and poetic. With influences from Portugal’s colonies, especially Brazil, fado first became popular in the early-19th century. Today it is Portugal’s foremost cultural asset — popular with tourists and also in concert halls worldwide, especially when performed by global phenom Mariza who has over 30 platinum recordings. Her vocals are searing as they are soaring; often sweet and sometimes plaintive.
Personally, I am a big fan of fado, and I couldn’t imagine ending my tenure without it coming to The Soraya.
Gratefully,
Thor Steingraber
Executive and Artistic Director,
Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts
Mariza
“Spellbinding ... a dazzling, captivating force to behold.” — The Telegraph
Born in Mozambique and raised in Mouraria, one of the most emblematic and traditional neighborhoods of Lisbon, Portugal, Mariza grew up surrounded by voices, guitars and memories of fado. She assumed that legacy from an early age, transforming it into a universal language and becoming one of the most acclaimed Portuguese artists in the world.
Inspired by the big names of fado and gifted with a unique voice, Mariza started by conquering Lisbon, soon becoming a phenomenon across borders. Today, she is a regular presence in some of the most prestigious venues in the world, from the United States to Asia, Europe to Latin America, taking with her the soul and the identity of Portugal.
With a career spanning more than two decades, Mariza has amassed a wealth of distinctions: more than 30 platinum records, several Latin GRAMMY® Award nominations, prestigious international awards and distinctions, and critical acclaim that has established her as one of the greatest voices in world music.
Much more than a performer, Mariza is a symbol: an heir to the Portuguese state of mind, a cultural ambassador, and an artist who has reinvented herself without ever losing her roots. Her music is emotional, a bridge between tradition and modernity, memory and future.
Mariza will be celebrating her noteworthy career with the release of her forthcoming album, Amor, about the many forms of love. The new album reflects her journey and announces a new artistic phase, an even bolder, more global, and timeless artist.
Tour Production Staff
Sound Engineer (Front of House) | Artur David
Sound Engineer (Monitors) | Mário Capucho
Lighting Designer | Rui Daniel
Tour Manager | Ricardo Dias
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Mariza on Portugal’s Beloved Musical Traditions
The Soraya
The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya/Producer) is an award-winning, state-of-the-art 1,700-seat theater that opened in 2011 as the Valley Performing Arts Center. Through a transformative gift by Younes and Soraya Nazarian, the venue was renamed The Soraya in 2017. The Soraya is located on the campus of California State University, Northridge, the intellectual and cultural heart of the San Fernando Valley.
Executive and Artistic Director Thor Steingraber, in his 12th year leading the organization, sums up what makes The Soraya a central piece of Los Angeles arts and culture. “At The Soraya, we hold a high standard of excellence for every performance from a vast array of artistic disciplines, and we hold steadfast to our commitment to the value and impact of the performing arts in community-building, for the Valley’s 1.8 million residents and beyond.”
The Soraya’s 2025–26 Season is a journey through the expansive sounds of orchestras, the freestyle vibes of jazz, the innovations of dance luminaries, and a vast array of global voices. The Soraya continues its vigorous commitment to excelling, innovating, and amplifying access for Valley residents, students, and arts lovers across Southern California.