Cristina Branco is a singer with an aesthetic daring and unique interpretive style. She – in her own way – turns fado into a kind of representative for the poetic and literary heritage of Portugal. From fado we tend to expect an emphasis on the tragic aspects of life – on suffering, longing and the helplessness we experience when we are confronted by destiny. Cristina has taken another road, however, one of individuality and singularity, and often one of ecstatic joy. Without seeking any sort of naive break with tradition, she instead searches for what is best in this tradition, giving new life to it with her originality. Now, after seventeen years, thirteen albums and many exhilarating concerts on since her 1996 debut in Amsterdam, Cristina decides to summarize in a three CD set a musical universe encompassing hundreds of great songs. This led to the not easy choice from her rich repertory, a kind of “ideal list”. She has included three brand new tracks. They join this “ideal list” of songs collected from the deep chest of thirteen recorded albums which along with her aesthetic vision, interpretation and values result in the triple CD Idealist.