Gilberto Gil in Concert

“I knew that music was my language, really. That music would lead me to know the world, would take me to other lands. Because I thought there was the music of the earth and the music of heaven.” Gilberto Gil

The international music legend returns to Italy. Three years after his last appearance, Gilberto Gil, a central figure in Brazilian culture, takes to the stage of the Sala Santa Cecilia at the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone with Gilberto Gil In Concert, a show celebrating over sixty years of his extraordinary artistic career.

Born in Salvador de Bahia in 1942, Gilberto Gil moves through and reshapes the musical history of his country, transforming it into a universal language. His style emerges from the meeting of roots and experimentation: samba, bossa nova and Tropicalismo – the movement that breaks down traditional boundaries by blending local rhythms with rock, psychedelia and global sounds – intertwine to create a distinctive and unmistakable voice. His compositions convey the very essence of Brazil, balancing collective memory, social tension and vital energy.

His artistic path is also deeply connected to a strong sense of civic engagement. During the military dictatorship, he endures arrest and exile in London, an experience that broadens his creative outlook and enriches his musical language. Songs such as Aquele Abraço, Expresso 2222 and Toda Menina Baiana become symbols of freedom, identity and joy, combining melodic immediacy with poetic depth.

Beyond music, Gilberto Gil plays a significant role in Brazil’s public life, serving as Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2008.

Currently on the Tempo Rei tour, which is selling out every date across Brazil, Gilberto Gil brings to the stage a wide considered repertoire, spanning his entire career and revisiting some of his most beloved works. Songs such as Andar com Fé, Drão, Palco and Não Chore Mais sit alongside his greatest classics.

Sharing the stage with him is an exceptional family superband, featuring his children and grandchildren: Bem Gil (vocals, guitar, bass), José Gil (vocals, drums), João Gil (vocals, guitar, bass) and Flor Gil (vocals, keyboards). A meeting of generations that turns the concert into a living narrative, where music becomes continuity, dialogue and a shared vision.

Cover image: Gilberto Gil
Photo: Pedro Napolinario