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Helena Moreira de Sá e Costa GOSE (26 May 1913 – 9 January 2006) was a pianist, concert performer and teacher.[1]
Helena Sá e Costa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 26, 1913 |
| Died | January 9, 2006 (aged 92) |
| Alma mater | Lisbon National Piano Conservatory |
| Occupation | Pianist |
Early life and education
editShe was the granddaughter of Bernardo Valentim Moreira de Sá (founder of the Porto Music Conservatory) and daughter of the pianist Leonilda Moreira de Sá e Costa and the pianist and composer Luís Costa. Her sister Madalena was a cellist.[2]
She completed her course at Lisbon National Piano Conservatory with a maximum mark of 20 out of 20, having been taught by her parents and Vianna da Motta. She also studied with Alfred Cortot[citation needed] and Edwin Fischer.[2][3]
Career
editShe performed with Fischer in 40 concerts in Europe's major cities, playing J. S. Bach's keyboard concertos nos. 2, 3 and 4.
She performed in Europe,[4] North America and, Brazil, Angola and Mozambique. She worked with all the Portuguese orchestra conductors, including Ernest Ansermet, Igor Markevitch, Paul Klecki and Swarowky. Among the artists she worked with in concert performances were Pierre Fournier, Pablo Casals,[5] Maurice Gendron, Sándor Végh, Arthur Grumiaux, János Starker, L. Hoelscher, Ruggiero Ricci, Stich-Randall, Rita Gorr, and Zara Nelsova. She formed a duo with her sister, the cellist Madalena Costa. Also with her sister and the violinist Henri Mouton, she formed the Trio Portugália.[6]
She taught in the Lisbon and Porto conservatories, and also oversaw courses in Cascais, Espinho, Estoril, Salzburg (Austria), Gunsbach (Albert Schweitzer Centre, in Alsace, France), Switzerland, Italy, England, Germany, Canada and America. At the Music School of the Porto Polytechnic Institute she was Chair of the Installation Commission and Chair of the Scientific Council.[7]
She performed at festivals, including those at Strasbourg, Wiesbaden, Haarlem, Prades, Gulbenkian, Majorca, Costa del Sol, Sintra, Espinho and Costa Verde. She served on the judging panels at international contests such as those at Berlin, Berna, Vianna da Motta, Palma de Mallorca, Canada, Maria Callas (Athens), Luís Costa (Porto) and the Portuguese Covilhã, Musical Youth and João Arroyo contests.
Her recordings include the first book of J. S. Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier; and also Beethoven's Concerto no. 4 and the "J. S. Bach Live Recording" (Porto 2001).
Awards
editShe was awarded the Moreira de Sá prize (1939); the Beethoven prize instituted by Vianna da Motta (1937); The Commendation of the Order of Santiago de Espada (1982); the Grand Officer of the Military Order of Santiago da Espada, in 2001; the medal of Merit of the City of Porto (1983); attributed by the Secretary of State for Culture (1989); and the Almada Prize (2000).
References
edit- ^ "Morreu a pianista Helena Sá e Costa". Público (in Portuguese). 9 January 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ a b Robert Stevenson; Asta-Rose Alcaide; Manuel Carlos De Brito (2001). "Costa family (i)". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.06611. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
- ^ "Famed Helena Costa To Play In Kilgore". Longview News-Journal. March 7, 1976. Retrieved April 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Miss Costa will appear at ETSU". Johnson City Press. February 11, 1968. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Portuguese Pianist Gives Sunday Concert". Kingsport Times. March 20, 1970. Retrieved April 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Madame Helena to present recital". Grand Prairie Daily News. March 1, 1976. Retrieved April 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Pianist to Play At Ambassador College". Kilgore News Herald. February 24, 1974. Retrieved April 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.