Time to say goodbye: Rio's biggest samba singer bows out after leading 50 Carnival parades

Tonight, as 100,000 people gather in the stands and VIP boxes of the Marquês de Sapucaí Sambadrome to watch the second night of parades at Rio de Janeiro's world-famous carnival, a voice that has resonated for half a century will be heard there for the last time.

- Tiago Rogero

It will be the final performance by Neguinho da Beija-Flor, 75, one of the country's most famous samba singers, who is retiring after leading 50 consecutive parades for the Beija-Flor - or Hummingbird - school.

At an event that brings together thousands of members from 12 samba schools, he is the most recognisable voice in Rio's elite carnival league, which operates like a championship, with a winner crowned each year.

"I can't wait to retire. After this parade, c'est fini," said Neguinho, with his constant smile and impeccably groomed afro - not a single grey strand in sight - just before heading into the studio for his final rehearsal.

He announced his retirement in November, a decision that surprised Rio's samba world, which follows the carnival parade with the same passion that other Brazilians have for football. His reason was exhaustion.

"Being a samba school singer requires the stamina of a marathon runner," he said. During the 70-80 minutes of a school's parade, it is the singer's job to maintain the energy of the audience - which can be almost twice the size of the crowd at Maracanã soccer stadium - chanting the year's samba-enredo theme in an endless loop. "It's a massive effort that has only become harder with age," Neguinho said.