Exhibition “Voices for Freedom – Adriano Correia de Oliveira”

From 7 November to 7 December, Torres Novas Municipal Library hosts the exhibition “Voices for Freedom – Adriano Correia de Oliveira”, part of the exhibition programme “50 Years of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, 50 Ideas for Freedom”, organised to mark the Constitution’s 50th anniversary.

Organised in collaboration with the Associação Adriano Correia de Oliveira, the exhibition will be on display in the library’s foyer and multipurpose room. It explores the life and legacy of one of the leading figures in Portuguese protest music, whose voice became a symbol of resistance to dictatorship and the struggle for freedom.

The opening takes place on 7 November at 4 pm in the library’s auditorium. It will feature a musical performance by members of the Choral Phydellius children’s choir, conducted by Marisa Morcela, and violinist Manuel Pires da Rocha, a member of Brigada Victor Jara and a teacher at the Coimbra Conservatory of Music. The opening programme will also include a discussion dedicated to the singer-songwriter’s life and work.

Born in Porto on 9 April 1942, Adriano Correia de Oliveira grew up in Avintes, Vila Nova de Gaia, and studied Law at the University of Coimbra, where he played an active role in cultural and academic life. It was there that he developed his musical career, deeply rooted in poetry and civic engagement.

His rendition of “Trova do Vento que Passa”, with lyrics by Manuel Alegre, became one of the emblematic songs of student resistance and opposition to the Estado Novo regime. Throughout his career, Adriano gave voice to poems by various Portuguese writers, establishing song as a form of cultural, social and political expression.

After the revolution of 25 April 1974, he continued to devote himself to music and cultural activities, remaining deeply committed to freedom and civic participation. He died prematurely in 1982, aged 40, leaving a legacy that remains closely associated with the history of Portuguese song and the struggle for freedom.

The exhibition invites visitors to discover or rediscover the life and work of Adriano Correia de Oliveira through a journey bringing together music, poetry, memory and freedom, reflecting the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic.