RUI OLIVEIRA   

Growing up in Aveiro, it was the sound of singers like José Afonso, Fausto, Chico Buarque, Jaques Brel, and Paul Simon that influenced Rui Oliveira's adolescence. He spent many long nights practicing singing and accompanying himself on guitar.

As an athlete, Rui always combined academic life with high-level sporting activities, applying principles of sports ethics in his daily life.

Between 1991 and 1996 he studied philosophy at the University of Coimbra.

Having completed his degree and with a career as a professional athlete he embarked on what would be the first of many trips, and one which would change the course of his life.

Rui toured around several European countries, working as a musician, singing and playing guitar, taking with him a love of music in general but in particular, a passion for traditional Portuguese music, like fado.

Travelling alone, he always tried to interact with local musicians, developing a taste for sharing, communicating and live musical improvisations.

Between 2000 and 2005 he lived in the Alfama district in Lisbon, a district in which there is a strong tradition of Portuguese music and dance. There, he joined the Raquel Oliveira Dance Company, singing fado and flamenco with the singer Ela Vaz.

Since then Rui has produced various live shows, which combine the various styles which he has adopted through his travels, whilst remaining loyal to his Portuguese roots. Of particularly importance are the shows ANDARILHO (Wanderer), FADO solo  and O Xú which he performed on stages such as the Casa da Música (Porto), Teatro Aveirense, Santiago Alquimista, the Estoril, Figueira da Foz, Espinho and Póvoa casinos and other prestigious venues.

 

From 2012 to 2015 he sang at the VOZ NUA choir.

 

In 2013 he was the voice over talent of the award winning documentary "The Quest of the Schooner Creoula" directed by André Valentim Almeida

In 2016 he was the voice over for the documentary:

A Biblioteca de Vasco Graça Moura

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"By communicating, we construct who we are"