Loading

Portrait of the pianist Maria Adelaide Freitas Gonçalves playing piano

Unknown

The Conservatory of Music of Oporto

The Conservatory of Music of Oporto
Porto, Portugal

A pupil of Luiz Costa, Maria Adelaide Freitas Gonçalves was a piano teacher at Porto Music Conservatory between 1918 and 1922. In 1934 she resumed teaching at the Conservatory, and was its director between 1941 and 1955. It should also be said that in 1937 Maria Adelaide Freitas Gonçalves founded in Porto the Delegação do Círculo de Cultura Musical (Office of the Music Culture Circle) at the invitation of Elisa de Sousa Pedroso. This allowed her to organize recitals and other activities at the Conservatory with renowned artists who were included in the Music Culture Circle programmes. Note in 1948 the presence of the Spanish composer Ernesto Halffter, in the last of a series of concerts by Helena Sá e Costa dedicated to Portuguese and Spanish music and the performance of Chopin’s entire opus by the Spanish pianist Leopold Querol at seven concerts at the Conservatory Hall. These concerts were part of a unique initiative by Maria Adelaide Freitas Gonçalves, called “Series of Concerts” which also included the presentation of Bach’s full work “The Well-Tempered Clavier” by the pianist Helena Sá e Costa, commented by the composer Claúdio Carneyro. Other initiatives were put in hand: themed music sessions accompanied by talks dedicated to the students (“Tardes Íntimas” e “Uma Hora de Música” – Intimate Afternoons and An Hour of Music, the institution of the Suggia prize, the inauguration in the Conservatory gardens of a bronze bust in honour of Guilhermina Suggia, the first free Dance Course (1953-57), the foundation of Orquestra Sinfónica do Conservatório de Música do Porto (Porto Music Conservatory Symphony Orchestra) which premiered on 21 June 1948, at the Rivoli Theatre, conducted by the Swedish maestro Karl Achatz, with the participation of Guilhermina Suggia as soloist – one of Maria Adelaide Gonçalves’ greatest achievements.

Details

  • Title: Portrait of the pianist Maria Adelaide Freitas Gonçalves playing piano
  • Creator: Unknown
  • Location: Oporto, Portugal

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Flash this QR Code to get the app
Google apps