Brazilian bossa nova singer Bebel Gilberto bares her soul in Hong Kong
A cool reception in Hong Kong fails to dampen the spirits of the fiery Brazilian bossa nova star. She tells Kylie Knott about growing up as a Gilberto, dealing with a disruptive disease and being an artist in the time of social media
There was no way of telling that Bebel Gilberto was in excruciating pain as she took to the stage at the MO Bar, in Central's Landmark Mandarin Oriental, for an invitation-only show this month. Just 24 hours earlier, the New York-born singer famous for her Brazilian bossa nova beats had broken her right arm in two places. Maybe if the 250-odd VIP guests had been aware of her injuries, a few more would have refrained from adding insult to them by chatting as she performed.
Floating onto the small stage, Gilberto - the daughter of Brazilian bossa nova royalty Joao Gilberto and Miucha, who uses just the one name - looked regal, her dress sashaying rhythmically as if it were part of the choreography. Unfortunately, the chitter-chatter of the well-heeled, international crowd - the one-off event was part of the hotel's 10th anniversary celebrations and a tie-in with an exhibition at White Cube gallery, in Central, by Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes - flowed as freely as the champagne, the collective hum at times drowning out a voice that has sold millions of records.
The situation improved marginally in the second half, as a thinning crowd fell under Gilberto's spell; the most etiquette-challenged guests must have taken themselves off to a cinema to make phone calls.
Nevertheless, it must have been frustrating for those who love her music to watch the multi-Grammy-nominated star receive such a poor reception on her first visit to Hong Kong.
The following day, Gilberto, ensconced on a giant couch in a suite at the five-star hotel, is chirpy and full of praise for Hong Kong, showing all the charm you'd expect from a star of her calibre. Looking relaxed despite having slept for just four hours, she stands up and offers a hand to shake, exposing a chunky wrist brace, the result of a fall on a snow-covered subway platform in New York.
"I'd just finished having a massage, getting ready for my appearance in Hong Kong, and was in that very chilled head space when I fell. I was in pain but I didn't want to cancel my trip and disappoint those who were coming to the show."