It has now been ten years since Ms. Domicília saw the light of day. Or, rather, the limelight, which illuminates the birth and growth of fabulous beings such as this lady, who makes us reflect on our world by showing us episodes from her own life, which she does with the joy and tender humour of someone who truly loves what she gently criticises.

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Ten years is a milestone calling for celebration. And in celebrating it, we celebrate the birthday girl herself and her progenitors, choreographer Sílvia Real and musician Sérgio Pelágio, as well as those who assisted Mrs. Domicília’s birth and have aided her growth: the designer Carlos Bártolo, the costume designer Ana Teresa Real, and the lighting designer Carlos Ramos. And we also celebrate the tenth anniversary of Real Pelágio Productions, the home-sweet-home established at the time of Mrs. Domicília's birth, which has watched over her fabulous career’s success.

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Since this is a happy family, the celebration is meant to be festive, and so it extends over twelve days, during which time we can see Ms. Domicília once again at home and in her workplace, learn about her latest experiences as a tourist, look through her family album’s memories, listen to music, and toast the birthday celebrants.

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We at Culturgest are pleased to join Real Pelágio Productions in celebrating this anniversary, and we joyfully welcome the birthday celebrants and guests. And we also make room for some of those who have recorded and documented Ms. Domicília's career.

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Gil Mendo, Culturgest booklet, January-March 2017 season

Sérgio Pelágio Trio at Culturgest

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Beauty can lie in the simple way in which things are presented. In this case, we are talking of a jazz trio with guitar (Sérgio Pelágio), double bass (Bernardo Moreira), and drums (André Sousa Machado), of the acoustic setting’s perfection, with the audience intimately connected to the musicians from a platform built on stage.

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These were the details that transformed Saturday night's show at Culturgest, in Lisbon, into a rare moment. Adding to these were the electric guitar without pedals, synthetic effects or piercing sounds, the acoustic bass and drums, and the careful selection of songs, all of which with excellent arrangements and played flawlessly.

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The audience's empathy with the musicians and the calm, confident way they played gave greater value to already beautiful songs such as “Skippy,” “Introspection,” “Pannonica,” “Well you needn’t,” the timeless “All the things you are,” “Reincarnation of the love bird” and “Goodbye pork pie hat,” a moving composition dedicated to Lester Young.

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The show ended with the fabulous ‘Giant Steps’ by John Coltrane, and, for the encore, the trio chose “Take the Coltrane,” composed by the great Duke Ellington for the album recorded with John Coltrane in the early 60s, based on “Take The ‘A’ Train” by Billy Strayhorn.

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António Rúbio, “Um concerto simples e belo”, newspaper Público, January 2017