News - Portugal: 40 years of Festival da Cancao | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2009 Moscow, Russia 

Last night, the Portuguese Broadcasting RTP presented a programme on the 40 years of Festival da Cancao with the presence of this year's Portuguese representative, Sofia Vitoria.

The host of the programme was Helena Ramos, who was the Portuguese spokesperson of the Portuguese voting in the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest. Among the Portuguese representatives in the Eurovision Song Contest, we could hear in this programme the voices of Antonio Calvario (1964), Simone de Oliveira (1965 and 1969), Tonicha (1971), Fernando Tordo (1973), To Ze Brito (1978), Manuela Bravo (1979), Maria Guinot (1984), Adelaide Ferreira (1985), Dora (1986 and 1988), Nucha (1990) and Rui Bandeira (1999). Furthermore, one could assist some interview moments concerning the future of Festival da Cancao since it seems to have lost a lot of interest for the composers, lyricists, performers and even for the audience. However, nothing was mentioned about the idea of RTP concerning the future of the event but this year it was clear that the Portuguese link to the Eurovision Song Contest was made through the popular show Operacao Triunfo. As the Portuguese were always Italian song lovers, Sofia Vitoria surprised the audience singing the Gigliola Cinquetti's song Non Ho L'Eta which won the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest. The second Italian win in 1990, Insieme performed by Toto Cotugno, was not also forgotten and was performed by Goncalo and Francisco. At the end of the show, Sofia Vitoria performed Foi Magia alongside Francisco and Goncalo.