Equale

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years Active

1990

Genres

MPB, vocal music

Instruments

voice

Biography

Equale is a vocal group from Rio de Janeiro formed in the early 1990s, recognized for their originality in interpreting Brazilian Popular Music (MPB), with exclusive vocal arrangements and a unique stage performance. Since its foundation, the group has performed at various choral singing festivals and held seasons in theaters in Rio de Janeiro and Niterói, officially debuting in October 1990. Equale's initial repertoire was eclectic, including songs by close artists and composers such as Lenine, João Bosco, and Arnaldo Antunes.

Starting in 1996, the group adopted the project "Great Composers of MPB" as their guiding work line, beginning with Gilberto Gil, which resulted in the CD "Expresso Gil", released in 2000. Throughout its trajectory, Equale has released other tribute albums to major names in Brazilian music, such as "Um Gosto de Sol" (2004), in honor of Milton Nascimento, and "Na Praia de Caymmi" (2017), which won the Brazilian Music Award in 2018 in the Best MPB Group category. More recently, the group released the album "Salve, Aldir!", in celebration of composer Aldir Blanc's 80th birthday.

Equale is composed of a diverse team of sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses, under the direction of André Protásio. The group stands out for the quality of its vocal arrangements, crafted by members such as André Protásio, Flávio Mendes, and Dalton Coelho, and for the way they use the voice as a primary instrument, creating sound and scenic resources that differentiate them from traditional choirs. This approach has established Equale as an important reference in the Brazilian vocal scene, participating in relevant festivals and projects throughout the country.

Discography

• Expresso Gil (1999)
• Equale Canta Milton Nascimento - Um Gosto de Sol (2004)
• Na Praia de Caymmi (2017)
• Salve, Aldir! (2026)