Ivan Lins at 80: one night only at Qualistage in April

Brazilian MPB legend Ivan Lins turns 80 with a landmark concert at Qualistage on April 11, featuring 55 years of hits and a brand-new song about Gaza.

“Eu me lembro…” — “I remember…” Those are the opening words of Agora, one of Ivan Lins’s earliest hits, released in 1970. Fifty-five years later, the Rio-born singer and composer arrives at 80 with a lifetime of memories baked into songs that have become part of Brazil’s cultural DNA.

From chemical engineer to MPB icon

A self-taught pianist, Ivan Lins developed a deeply personal style at the keys from an early age. He had just earned a degree in chemical engineering when his song O amor é o meu país (co-written with Ronaldo Monteiro de Souza) placed second at Brazil’s prestigious 5th International Song Festival in 1970 — the same year Madalena became a hit in the voice of Elis Regina. He traded the laboratory for the stage and never looked back.

His long collaboration with lyricist Vítor Martins, spanning the 1970s through the 2000s, produced a string of beloved songs: Abre-alas, Somos todos iguais esta noite, Começar de novo, and Aos nossos filhos. Telenovela soundtracks brought his music to millions more, with songs like Vitoriosa, Iluminados, Lembra de mim, and Lua soberana.

A catalog that crossed every border

Through producer Quincy Jones, Ivan Lins’s music reached a global audience. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, George Benson, Barbra Streisand, and Sting are among the artists who recorded his compositions. His concerts have sold out from the United States to Japan. Back home, voices like Simone, Fafá de Belém, Gal Costa, and Zizi Possi helped cement his songs in the Brazilian canon.

What to expect from the show

The Ivan Lins 80 concert does not shy away from the classics — Madalena, Vitoriosa, and Lembra de mim are all confirmed. But the setlist, organized into thematic blocks, also digs into lesser-known gems. A romantic section features O amor é o meu país, Iluminados, and Ai Ai Ai Ai Ai, while a block on stormy relationships revives Saindo de mim and A Noite.

On the political front, Ivan arrives at 80 very much in the present: the brand-new Meninos de Gaza (co-written with Simone Guimarães) shares the stage with the timeless Aos nossos filhos and Cartomante, both famously recorded by Elis Regina.

A special segment celebrates the rural, interior Brazil that Vítor Martins introduced to the coastal-born Ivan, with Guarde nos olhos, Bandeira do Divino, and the recent Olhos pra te ver — recorded by Milton Nascimento and Chitãozinho & Xororó. Sambas written with Paulo César Pinheiro, Celso Viáfora, and Chico Buarque round out the set, including Sou eu, a hit for Diogo Nogueira.

A family affair

The show is directed by actor and singer Claudio Lins, Ivan’s son. “Without theatrical excess, the intention is to build a narrative of musical contexts rooted in my own emotional connection to his work,” Claudio explains. “We want to toast the audience with a moving show that highlights his beautiful relationship with music. After all, Ivan Lins has never written an ugly song.”

Production direction is handled by João Lins, Ivan’s other son and business manager, alongside longtime collaborator Carlos Costa. Ivan himself serves as musical director, backed by the same band he has trusted for years.

Event Info

• Show: Ivan Lins 80 Anos
• Date: April 11, 2026 (Saturday)
• Venue: Qualistage — Avenida Ayrton Senna, 3000, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil
• Doors open: 7:30 PM
• Show starts: 9:30 PM
• Age rating: 18 and over
• Tickets: From R$ 90.00
• Online sales: https://qualistage.com.br/ivan-lins
• Box office: Shopping Via Parque — Av. Ayrton Senna, 3000, Barra da Tijuca, RJ. Monday–Saturday 11 AM–8 PM; Sundays and holidays 1 PM–8 PM. Hours may vary on show days.
• Capacity: 9,000 standing or 3,500 seated
• Accessibility: The venue is fully accessible.