Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 04/17/2026
Photo © Victor Correa
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center presents the João Bosco Quartet in a special performance celebrating the legendary Brazilian artist's 80th birthday and more than five decades of groundbreaking music-making on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 7:30pm. Presented in association with Brazil LAB, this performance celebrates João Bosco’s extraordinary career.
Sharing the stage with João Bosco is a world-class ensemble featuring Ricardo Silveira on guitar, Guto Wirtti on bass, and Kiko Freitas on drums.
Over five decades, João Bosco has crafted one of the most distinctive bodies of work in Brazilian music, blending voice, guitar, and relentless invention. His most recent album, Boca Cheia de Frutas (“Mouth Full of Fruit”), released last year, was widely hailed as one of the most significant recordings of the year. This performance features both beloved classics and selections from his latest work.
A Latin GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Bosco is a central figure in Música Popular Brasileira, discovered by Vinicius de Moraes and championed early in his career by Antonio Carlos Jobim. He has composed more than 250 songs, many of which are deeply embedded in Brazilian cultural life. His work fuses samba, bossa nova, jazz, rock, and African and Arabic influences into a singular musical language that transcends borders.
Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling (609) 258-2787. McCarter Theatre Center is located at 91 University Place in Princeton, New Jersey.
Bosco’s longtime songwriting partnership with poet Aldir Blanc produced some of Brazilian music’s most enduring works, including “O Bêbado e a Equilibrista,” made famous by Elis Regina as an anthem of resistance during Brazil’s military dictatorship. His performances are known for their intensity and physicality—combining virtuosic guitar work, rhythmic vocal phrasing, and percussive technique that critics have described as uniquely expressive and deeply human.
As The New York Times notes: “Two centuries of the rhythms of his country flow through the fingers of João Bosco.”
Opening the evening is Brazilian classical guitar prodigy Gabriele Leite, named to the Forbes Under 30 list among numerous honors. She will perform selections from her album Territórios, including works by Heitor Villa-Lobos and Sérgio Assad.
Free Post-Show Party: Following João Bosco’s performance, Samb’in Princeton—the premier roda de samba in Princeton—will perform in the Lockwood Lobby. Stay for a caipirinha (or two) and join the party.
What began as backyard jam sessions among friends has grown into a joyful community gathering. Samb’in Princeton is Princeton’s first roda de samba, where musicians play around a shared table and everyone is invited to sing, clap, dance, and celebrate together. No musical experience is needed—just bring your energy and enjoy.
McCarter is one of the country’s flagship theaters and a vibrant center for community and the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub for arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages.
A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence dates back to its first performances in 1930. Our Town, You Can’t Take It with You, and Bus Stop all premiered at McCarter, paving the way for a long history of launching remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances worldwide.
The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock. Of the 100,000 community members who engage with McCarter each year, more than 5,000 are students participating in educational programs in Princeton, Trenton, and schools across the region. McCarter leads with values of justice, joy, and beauty in belonging—creating a space where artists and audiences can come together to celebrate the power of live performance.
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