The singer “was someone who always knew how to dignify the Portuguese presence in Brazil and without a doubt is an irreparable loss to Portuguese music in Brazil,” said Paulo Machado, concluding that “the community has lost a great friend.” “His music made this fusion, it was a point of connection between Portuguese and Brazilian culture,” he added. There is a huge feeling of affection for him that, throughout his career, became a symbol of the community and knew how to make a good bridge between the Brazilian and the Portuguese people, “said the Consul General of Portugal. “Today we were confronted with the news of the death of Roberto Leal and although we know of his illness was a surprise.
Jorge Cabral recalled “with emotion” the meeting he had with the singer, in January this year, in the Brazilian city of São Paulo, on the occasion of the visit to Brazil of the Secretary of State of the Communities, José Luis Carneiro, when Roberto Leal told them, “with great passion and enthusiasm”, of the various projects related to his professional activity, which he intended to carry on.Ĭonsul General of Portugal in São Paulo, Paulo Nascimento, (…) To this extent, he can be genuinely considered a “Ambassador of Portuguese culture in Brazil”, added the diplomat.
“Roberto Leal, stage name of António Joaquim Fernandes, was a simple and friendly man, always proud of his origins and his homeland, honoring Portuguese traditions and popular music. “His death represents an irreparable loss to the Portuguese family, to Portugal, to the Luso-Brazilian community, but certainly also to the artistic world and the music scene in general,” Jorge Cabral wrote in a note sent to the agency. Portuguese Ambassador to Brasilia, Jorge Cabral, Rest in peace, Roberto ,” wrote João Doria in the Twitter He loved both countries and had many admirers in both. He was Portuguese by birth and Brazilian by the soul. Governor of the Brazilian State of São Paulo, João Dória The Secretary of State also said that he presented the condolences of the Portuguese government to the singer’s family, which he considers to be “a symbol for those who have suffered the same difficulties and managed to overcome all obstacles”. José Luís Carneiro considers that Roberto Leal is a symbol of a generation of Portuguese who left the country in the 50’s and 60’s, experienced many difficulties and managed to overcome prejudice by becoming an example on several levels. Who canceled his political campaign commitments, after arriving in the city of São Paulo, to represent the Portuguese Government at the wake. “Therefore, I am not surprised by the feeling of great pain, and of deep longing, that has been noticed these days, both here in Brazil and in Portugal”, added Augusto Santos Silva. In addition to the musical merits, the head of Portuguese diplomacy stressed that Roberto Leal is “an exemplary expression of this ability of the Portuguese to build bridges with other countries.” Therefore, like so many others, it was a bridge, in this case between Portugal and Brazil,” said Augusto Santos Silva in an interview with Lusa. “He is an example of the best that Portuguese communities have, that is, of a person who has embraced a career, made a living, triumphed, but has never forgotten his roots, his connections with Portugal. Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva President of the Republic of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de SousaĪ note from the Presidency of the Republic, expressing his condolences to the family, read: “The President of the Republic remembered Roberto Leal with friendship, recalling his role with the Portuguese communities, namely in Brazil, with connection to his roots, for several decades”, On this day of sorrow, many messages were published by politicians, artists, and friends about the passing of this Portuguese music idol known around the world.