Portuguese Pianists

[ail]

Hi,

I'm still not so seriously into music to accompany the music scene intensively. As such, I don't know many living pianists, except some Portuguese ones. And one thing that I always wonder is which of them have truly international level. So I decided to list here those I remember and ask you if you recognize any of them and what do you have to say about them. Thanks:

Maria João Pires
Pedro Burmester
Bernardo Sassetti
Mário Laginha
Olga Pratts
Sequeira Costa
Domingos António
Jorge Moyano
Vianna da Motta (if you allow me a long dead one).
António Rosado
Filipe Pinto Ribeiro
Luís Filipe Sá
Tiago Mileu (he's only 14, but currently he's being very acclaimed here)
------------------------
Usually, Tanya Achot appears in the lists of Portuguese pianists because she works in Portugal. However, she's Russian, so ignore her if you wish.

Alex

[iumonito]

Sequira Costa is a great teacher.  I think Pedro Burmester is a great pool player (isn't he the one at the Van Cliburn a few years ago who instead of practicing would relax playing pool?  Very musical pianist).

Pires and Da Motta of course are historic.

I would add to your list Alexandra Mesquita.

Brazil has your number, though, I think; just like in soccer, right?  Oh right, Portugal did better than Brazil in the last world cup.  Oh well.  Congratulations.

[ail]

Sequira Costa is a great teacher.  I think Pedro Burmester is a great pool player (isn't he the one at the Van Cliburn a few years ago who instead of practicing would relax playing pool?  Very musical pianist).

I didn't know that, but he was at a Van Cliburn in 89. Might be the same. Actually, I heard him a few times in the radio, but his records are extremely difficult to find. He's my inspiration for the Raindrop prelude, and in general I idolize him (he's from my city, just a few years older than me, and all that). Nowadays, I guess he doesn't play that much, as he's more concerned with administrative duty in Casa da Música, Porto. A pity, though I think he's the right man for that job.

I would add to your list Alexandra Mesquita.

Could you give me more input about this Alexandra? How old is she? I had once classes with an Alexandra that was going for the US to take her MsC. That was years ago. I don't recall her last name, though. Do you know some place where I can read her bio or see her pic?

Brazil has your number, though, I think; just like in soccer, right?  Oh right, Portugal did better than Brazil in the last world cup.  Oh well.  Congratulations.

I don't know what you mean by 'having our number'. If you mean Brazil has more pianists, sure, no problem with that. I didn't post here to brag, I merely listed the pianists I know from my country and wanted to know which of them have international projection because that isn't obvious when you don't have access to the international point of view. It was not a counting contest. Actually, I found a list of portuguese pianists and it was far bigger than I imagined. I'd bet that either most of them are living abroad or eating at the "poor's soup", so to say.

Alex

[mad_max2024]

Hey, a fellow compatriot
And from my home town apparently...

Of course I know several of the pianists you write there, but since you are asking wether or not they are known abroad, I'm afraid I can't be of much help

Still, it's nice to see a fellow portuguese among the foruns...

[[]]

[iumonito]

Could you give me more input about this Alexandra? How old is she? I had once classes with an Alexandra that was going for the US to take her MsC. That was years ago. I don't recall her last name, though. Do you know some place where I can read her bio or see her pic?
Alex

Blonde, tall, gorgeous, the kindest person you have ever met.  Studied with Sequeira Costa in Kansas some 15 years ago.  I think now she concentrates on musical therapy.

Didn't find a pic, but learned in the process my adored Artur Pizarro is also Portuguese.  Perhaps the best of them all, then.

https://meloteca.com/tecla-pianistas.htm

[ail]

Blonde, tall, gorgeous, the kindest person you have ever met.  Studied with Sequeira Costa in Kansas some 15 years ago.  I think now she concentrates on musical therapy.

Didn't find a pic, but learned in the process my adored Artur Pizarro is also Portuguese.  Perhaps the best of them all, then.

https://meloteca.com/tecla-pianistas.htm

Your link points to Alexandra Torrens, not the same name you gave me before. But from the description, it's not the person I thought.

Hey, a fellow compatriot
And from my home town apparently...

Of course I know several of the pianists you write there, but since you are asking wether or not they are known abroad, I'm afraid I can't be of much help

Still, it's nice to see a fellow portuguese among the foruns...

[[]]

Hi :-)

Indeed, I also like to see another lusitan here  :-) Are you from Oporto too? How old are you, have you been playing for long?

I look forward to talking more with you about the piano and music in our country.

Alex

[ejs]

How about Fernando Laires who helped found the Liszt Society?  I also recognize Costa.

[alexa13]

Hi!
...by chance I found this forum about portuguese pianists... I my self, am one of them - if any of you has any questions please feel free to ask.
In the mean time about the posts I read:
 - The Alexandra you mensioned in the US, is it Alexandra Máscolo David?
 - Tania Achot was married to Sequeira Costa for many years, also with Iranian/russian origins, she has portuguese nationality. She, along with Sequeira Costa are 2 of the most important piano teachers in Portugal - most of us who are concert pianists studied with them.
-Another important pianist and teacher which you should add to your list is Helena Sá e Costa, from Porto (Pedro burmester and other pianists from the north of Portugal studied with her).
...there is a lot to say about this theme....
Best regards to all,
Alexandra Torrens
(now abroad (Brazil), as many of us....)
(more information in english about myself: https://vhprod.com/index.php?lang=2)

[ail]

Hi, Alexandra, thank you very much for your reply. Someone had mentioned you above :-D

No, actually, the Alexandra I was looking for is not Alexandra M. David. She must be about 30 years old now, if that helps, perhaps a bit younger.

Now, Helena Sá e Costa was just an unfortunate forgetting. Of course I know her, I even had the change to trade a few words with her so few years ago, when the Fundação Engenheiro António de Almeida create the Suggia prize. She could barely understand me at all, there was a young man always at her side who had to tell her what people were saying. Age can be sad, sometimes.

Alexandre

[Lebenssturme]

Hi,

I'm still not so seriously into music to accompany the music scene intensively. As such, I don't know many living pianists, except some Portuguese ones. And one thing that I always wonder is which of them have truly international level. So I decided to list here those I remember and ask you if you recognize any of them and what do you have to say about them. Thanks:

Maria João Pires
Pedro Burmester
Bernardo Sassetti
Mário Laginha
Olga Pratts
Sequeira Costa
Domingos António
Jorge Moyano
Vianna da Motta (if you allow me a long dead one).
António Rosado
Filipe Pinto Ribeiro
Luís Filipe Sá
Tiago Mileu (he's only 14, but currently he's being very acclaimed here)
------------------------
Usually, Tanya Achot appears in the lists of Portuguese pianists because she works in Portugal. However, she's Russian, so ignore her if you wish.

Alex

ail,
you forgot to mention Artur Pizarro.

Pedro Burmester usually plays two piano with A.Eremine (who was my teacher for four unforgetable years. Incredible personality and a great teacher).

[retrouvailles]

I would say that Maria João Pires and Artur Pizarro are my favorite Portuguese pianists. Their recordings are really great. Also, I have not heard Vianna da Motta's playing, but I can say that his compositions are top notch.

[thalbergmad]

I like Da Motta and especially his Concerto.

Anyone who finds me the score, can have my house when i die and my firstborn child.

The publishers do not seem interested in English e mails.

Thal

[retrouvailles]

I like Da Motta and especially his Concerto.

Anyone who finds me the score, can have my house when i die and my firstborn child.

The publishers do not seem interested in English e mails.

Thal

Have you tried emailing Hyperion for some help? I did this in the past and they answered my emails.

[thalbergmad]

Yes, they gave me the address of the Publisher as well as their e mail and fax.

Regretfully, they have never responded to any of my attempts at communication or those of me old mate Arthur Cimirro who speaks the lingo.

Its the only score i have missing from the Hyperion series and it is driving me mad.

WWWWWHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Thal

PS If anyone gets me this, i will do their washing up for a year.

[retrouvailles]

Its the only score i have missing from the Hyperion series and it is driving me mad.

Wow, quite an accomplishment. I envy you. Do you even have the score for the pieces on vol 43?

And do you have da Motta's Fantasia Dramática? That piece is as much a gem as the concerto in my opinion.

[thalbergmad]

1. Volume 43 was not too difficult. Royal Academy of Music had Bache 1 ( I ordered the 2nd as well) and Cambridge University Library had all Sterndale Bennett. For once, living in England is an advantage.

2. Oh balls, i forgot about that. I rephrase to only 1 missing called Concerto

Thal