When violin becomes rhythm: “Num Axé pra Lua” in Rio

In “Num Axé pra Lua”, violin turns into rhythm and percussion becomes harmony: Lan Lanh & Mário Soares live, free at CAIXA Cultural RJ on Jan 23–24.

CAIXA Cultural Rio de Janeiro hosts “Lan Lanh e Mário Soares num axé pra Lua” on January 23 and 24, 2026, at 6 pm, at Teatro Nelson Rodrigues. The show reshapes the traditional roles of percussion and violin, drawing from African ancestry, Northeastern Brazilian culture, and Bahia’s urban pulse. Admission is free, subject to capacity, and both nights include Brazilian Sign Language interpreters (Libras).

A duo that flips the script

One year after its debut in Salvador, the project arrives in Rio with a refreshed chapter of the partnership built on experimentation and creative freedom. “It’s a meeting born from affection, listening, and freedom. We create rhythm on the violin and harmony on the drums, without asking permission from labels,” says Lan Lanh.

For the Rio run, the duo brings new repertoire details, expanded improvisation, and arrangements prepared specifically for the venue. At the heart of the concept is a symbolic tribute to Luiz Gonzaga and Luiz Caldas—two pillars of Brazilian music who bridge tradition and reinvention. “Gonzagão gave structure to Brazil musically. Luiz Caldas opened paths to a new language. The show walks between those worlds,” says Mário Soares.

Special guests and a shared celebration

Guest singer Márcia Short, a standout voice from Bahia and a key reference from Banda Mel, joins the performance, adding intensity to a set that moves through axé, baião, ijexá, and afro-samba. “Márcia sings everything with truth, from the popular to the sacred. She brings memory, strength, and emotion to the show,” Lan Lanh says.

The lineup also features Ruan de Souza (acoustic guitar), from Orquestra Afrosinfônica, and Dadi Carvalho (bass), a historic member of Novos Baianos and A Cor do Som. Together, they expand the conversation between generations and aesthetics inside Brazilian music.

The show nods to African roots from the opening moments, including pieces such as “Canto de Xangô” (Baden Powell/Vinicius de Moraes) and “Batuque nas Águas” (Naná Vasconcelos). Throughout the set, Mário Soares’ violin moves between the textures of the rabeca, Bahia’s electric guitar tradition, and orchestral phrasing, in direct dialogue with Lan Lanh’s percussion.

For the finale, the promise is a theater that feels like a public square, with references to Dodô & Osmar’s trio elétrico, frevo, and the energy of Brazil’s major cultural gathering points. “We end it like Praça Castro Alves, with everyone dancing,” Lan Lanh previews.

A free workshop comes first

Before the concerts, the artists lead the workshop “Ritmos Afro‑Brasileiros para Percussões e Cordas Friccionadas” on January 21 at 2 pm, also at Teatro Nelson Rodrigues. Free and open to the public, it offers an immersion into the duo’s creative process, exploring improvisation, deep listening, rhythmic claves, ancestry, and the relationship between rhythm, melody, and harmony.

The workshop welcomes percussionists, bowed-string players, students, professionals, and curious listeners. There are 40 free spots, with registration exclusively by email and subject to availability, according to the organizers.

Service

[Show] “Lan Lanh e Mário Soares num axé pra Lua”

Venue: CAIXA Cultural Rio de Janeiro – Teatro Nelson Rodrigues

Address: Av. República do Paraguai, 230 – Centro (RJ)

Dates: January 23–24, 2026

Time: Friday and Saturday, 6 pm

Admission: Free (subject to capacity)

Access for people with disabilities

Accessibility: Libras interpreters on both days

Age rating: General audiences

[Workshop] “Ritmos Afro‑Brasileiros para Percussões e Cordas Friccionadas”

Date: January 21

Time: Wednesday, 2 pm

Registration: Link

Spots: 40 (free)

Age rating: General audiences

Info: (21) 3083-1785 | https://www.caixacultural.gov.br/Paginas/RiodeJaneiro.aspx | https://www.instagram.com/caixaculturalrj/

Sponsorship: CAIXA and the Federal Government

Photo: Mari França; Vanessa Aragão