cantoras

Cantoras is the plural of cantora in Portuguese, referring to female singers. The term is used across Portuguese-speaking countries to denote women who perform vocal music professionally, across genres and traditions, from popular song to folk and classical repertoires.

In Brazil and Portugal, cantoras have played a central role in shaping national repertoires. In Portugal, cantoras have been associated with fado and other traditional vocal styles, while in Brazil the term covers artists working in samba, bossa nova, MPB and related genres. The rise of prominent cantoras in the mid-20th century coincided with broader social changes that expanded opportunities for women in music. Early international-era figures include Carmen Miranda, who gained fame in the 1930s and 1940s, while later generations produced iconic interpreters of Brazilian song.

Notable cantoras include Elis Regina, Gal Costa, Maria Bethânia and Nana Caymmi from Brazil, as well as Maysa and Adriana Calcanhotto. In Portugal, Amália Rodrigues is a landmark figure associated with the title of cantora in the fado tradition. Contemporary figures such as Marisa Monte and Ana Moura have continued the tradition in modern contexts.

Because of the broad usage of the term, cantoras can refer to solo performers, session vocalists, and even female-fronted bands. The label emphasizes interpretation and vocal technique as central to the artist's identity.